Observers of Civil Network OPORA continue watching the voting process and the functioning of precinct election commissions in the first local elections in united territorial communities.  According to the data gathered by OPORA on the basis of statistically-based sampling as of 12:00 PM, the major violations detected by observers are attempts to issue ballots without passport verification. Thus, such incidents were detected at 7.4% of PECs (particularly in Sumy and Zhytomyr oblasts). Ballot papers shall be issued to the voters exclusively after they present their passports or a temporary Ukrainian citizenship certificate. 92.6% of election precincts consistently follow this regulation.

In general, the voters have a free access to the voting since the opening of polling stations. At the same time, we have to admit that s number of PECs have failed to provide comfortable conditions for exercise of the franchise, causing lines at election precincts and additional inconveniences during the voting. There are issues with material and technical support at PECs, which were mentioned by OPORA in previous reports: Inconsistency of the space in premises and the number of voters, lack of mobile and stationary ballot boxes (Vinnytsia, Volyn obl.), polling booths, absence of safes for keeping ballot papers and other electoral documents (Zhytomyr obl.). Lines at PECs (particularly in Kherson oblast) occur because the majority of commissions are formed in minimal membership.

We would like to remind that according to the Article 76 (3) of the Law of Ukraine on Local Elections, each election precinct shall have enough number of ballot boxes, and the voting is conducted in a special premises with enough number of ballot booths and places where ballot papers are issued. Although precinct election commissions are responsible for the arrangement of voting premises, they didn't have proper conditions for making such arrangements because of passivity or inaction of local government bodies.

Due to the absence of safes (metal cabinets) at some PECs, there are doubts that they will be able to keep ballot papers, stamps and other documents for the whole election day, during the vote count and transportation of election documentation.

There are also critical issues with ballot printing, which have been emphasized by OPORA earlier. For example, in Sofiivka PEC (Kherson oblast), a council member was absent in ballot papers, and the PEC had to urgently re-print the ballots.  In the city of Radomyshl (Zhytomyr oblast), low-quality printed ballots were detected (without text and special protection).

As of 12:00 PM, observers haven't reported violation of the voting secrecy, particularly take pictures of ballot papers.

Not all PECs stick to the requirement demanding that only the voters, candidates and their proxies, official observers, mass media representatives, and CEC members may be present at voting premises. In particular, in Zaporizhia, Poltava, and Kherson oblasts, observers noticed officials of local self-government bodies, law-enforcement officers and other unauthorized persons at PECs.

The other violations, detected by OPORA's observers, are: campaign materials at precinct election commissions (Luhansk, Poltava oblasts), issuance of ballots without their signature (Donetsk oblast).

In general, the procedural violations, reported by OPORA's observers at 12.4% polling stations, were caused by low quality of work and incompetence of some PEC members.  You may learn in detail about the incidents and violations in OPORA's Digest.