On March 26, 2006, elections of deputies to the Lutsk City Council were held. For the first time, they were held under a proportional system, when Lutsk residents voted for local organizations of political parties and election blocs, rather than for individually selected deputies. Who would represent the Lutsk community in the council was decided by the parties themselves, which at their own discretion placed their candidates on the election lists. What came of it? The first results can be seen by analyzing the annual activity of the deputies of the Lutsk City Council. In order to improve the quality and level of work with voters by city council deputies and their factions in the city of Lutsk, three partner organizations - Lutsk City Public Organization "Center for Political Analysis and Election Consulting", Volyn Regional Youth Public Organization "Association of Young Reformers (AMoRe)", Volyn Regional Public Organization "Volyn Press Club" – implemented the project "Analysis of Work with Voters by Deputies and Factions of the Lutsk City Council in the Period after the 2006 Elections". Support in implementing this idea was provided by the "Public Voice" Project, financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). With the change in election legislation, the problematic issues of the functioning of local self-government bodies did not disappear. The absence of clear and transparent mechanisms for citizens' influence on the activities of local self-government bodies, the low level of connection between the elected representatives of the community and city residents, the weak awareness of Lutsk residents about the work of city council deputies, the unpreparedness of deputies to report to voters and, accordingly, the small number of reports – these are precisely the problems that crystallized as a result of the implementation of this project. Within the framework of the project, a study of public opinion of Lutsk residents was conducted, a survey of deputies of the Lutsk City Council, an analysis of publications in local media, and a round table to discuss the research results. The work of deputies was assessed for the period from April 2006 to April 2007. At the first stage of the project, a sociological study was conducted to determine the level of awareness of Lutsk residents about the work of deputies and factions of the city council. 300 residents of Lutsk aged 18 and older, living in all districts of the city, were surveyed. The study showed that one third of Lutsk voters cannot name the party or bloc for which they cast their vote in the elections of deputies to the Lutsk City Council in March 2006. In addition, Lutsk residents are poorly informed not only about the activities of factions in the Lutsk City Council, which were created on the basis of the choice of residents of the regional center, but also about their existence. Half of Lutsk voters do not even know about "their" factions, that is, those created on the basis of the political forces for which they voted. Three quarters of Lutsk residents cannot name the leaders of factions or individual deputies of the Lutsk City Council. 85% of Lutsk residents had no meetings with local deputies. Among those who met with representatives of the territorial community, mostly pensioners and heads of institutions, organizations, and enterprises of Lutsk. Most often, people turned to local-level deputies by phone, through the public reception office of a faction, and by writing letters. Almost half of Lutsk residents (46%), if the need arises, are ready to turn to deputies for help, and 14% of them are firmly convinced that they will under no circumstances turn to community representatives for help. The most optimal form of communication with a deputy, according to respondents, is a reception on a set day and time at the city council (22.7%), as well as contacting the public reception office of a deputies' faction (20.1%). The main thing for voters, as the study results show, is also personal communication with the deputy (16.7%). It is precisely after such meetings that the level of assessment of the activities of deputies, their groups and factions rises. Telephone communication with community representatives is also perceived positively by residents of the Volyn center as a possible form (13.4%). Lutsk residents do not favor meetings in collectives, for example, at their enterprise, institution or organization where they work (1.7%). One of the main sources of information for Lutsk residents is television (68.7%) and the press (44%). However, as the results of the public opinion study showed, local media absolutely do not fulfill this important role for society. Residents of the regional center are completely uninformed about the activities of deputy factions and their reception offices. The assessment of the activities of city council deputies is determined by the number of real cases resolved. Half of Lutsk residents (53.3%) have not heard that deputies reported to voters on the work done. 66% of respondents do not know about the existence of public reception offices of deputies and their parties. This explains the low assessment of the activities of deputy factions. Voters do not possess sufficient information to realistically assess the activities of the Lutsk City Council. Snatching from their own field of vision things and processes happening in the city, Lutsk residents draw conclusions and give assessments. 70% of Lutsk residents cannot name specific measures, initiatives, or proposals of deputies of the Lutsk City Council that were implemented during 2006–2007. Assessments of the effectiveness of the deputy corps practically do not rise above "3" – 32% (8% – "good", less than 1% – "excellent"). 50% of Lutsk residents believe that deputies do not protect or represent the interests of the local community. Again, the dependence of assessment on coverage in the mass media and on personal meetings of voters with deputies can be traced. After the 2006 elections, one could hope for an improvement in the situation with the assessment of the activities of the Lutsk City Council. However, the situation has absolutely not changed. Although parties with serious resource potential became part of the Lutsk City Council, their factions were created along the entire vertical of representative power, they were unable to establish worthy feedback with their voters or ensure information about the activities of their deputies, their factions and reception offices. Overall, one can speak of the low effectiveness of the activities of the deputy corps of the Lutsk City Council. Information work aimed at creating authority and a good image of deputies as one of the elements of local self-government equals zero. Confirmation of this conclusion is also provided by the results of the analysis of publications in local print media regarding coverage of the activities of deputies and factions of the Lutsk City Council. Of the entire list of regional print publications processed by the project experts during the reporting period, only the city communal newspaper "Lutsky Zamok" published 37 informational reports. In "Volynska Hazeta" – 12, in the newspaper "Volyn-nova" – 9, "Viche-inform" – 6, "Vidomosti" – 3, "Avers PRES" – 2. The newspapers "Simia i Dim" and "Visnyk" did not provide any information either about the activities of the deputy corps or about individual deputies. This is not enough to satisfy the needs of Lutsk residents for fresh and complete information about the work of their deputies. In fact, residents of Lutsk today find themselves in an information blockade regarding the activities of community representatives. They do not know what deputies are doing today, what initiatives they are showing, what measures and projects they are implementing for the community. Another stage of the project was an anonymous survey of deputies of the Lutsk City Council, in which incumbent deputies were asked to evaluate their work and the activities of their colleagues. Of the 33 deputies of the Lutsk City Council who received questionnaires, only 12 sent their answers to the project organizers. Although the survey of deputies did not provide a complete picture of how deputies maintain contact with voters and inform them about their activities, it still demonstrates certain trends that are characteristic of the entire deputy corps. A positive assessment of their activities dominates among deputies. 64% of deputies consider their activity satisfactory, 28% – mostly effective, and 9% – fully effective. At the same time, most deputies do not fully realize whose interests they defend in the city council. Only 17% of respondents claim that city council deputies fully protect the interests of city residents, and 50% answered that they rather protect the interests of Lutsk residents. Judging by the deputies' answers, 33% of them reported to voters on their work quarterly, and 25% claim that they reported to voters at least twice a year. The same number of deputies answered that they reported once during their time in office. During 2006-2007, deputies maintained contact with voters both through local media and independently, using public meetings and personal receptions. Although deputies see voters' appeals to the offices of their political forces as the most optimal for themselves. Thus, it can be stated that deputies of the Lutsk City Council generally assess their activity as positive and are mostly satisfied with their work on informing voters. These results differ somewhat from the mood of the community and may indicate that deputies are detached from the lives of ordinary Lutsk residents. Although during the round table presenting the research results, city council deputies claimed that voters themselves are not very eager to learn about their work. That is, the political ignorance of voters relaxes deputies. Deputies also complained that local media often ignore information about the activities of community representatives, and it is impossible to meet with all voters. Although representatives of all political forces that participated in the round table (BYuT, "Nasha Ukraina", PRP, UNP) noted that informing Lutsk residents about their work is important to them and they will improve activities aimed at greater contact with voters. That is why, based on the conducted research and discussion, the project experts developed a number of relevant recommendations for the deputies of the Lutsk City Council and the political forces they represent. The project experts believe that the use of these recommendations, as well as taking into account the results of all the mentioned studies, will contribute to increasing the level of responsibility of elected representatives to the community and to introducing mechanisms for informing the population about the activities of deputies. Recommendations for deputies of the Lutsk City Council, their factions and local organizations of political parties 1. To the deputies of the Lutsk City Council: 1.1 In the budget of the Lutsk City Council, allocate a separate expenditure item for informing Lutsk residents about the activities of deputies and factions of the Lutsk City Council; 1.2. Develop and print a booklet about the personal composition of the city council, in which to place the names and photographs of all deputies, indicating their permanent place of work, the political force they represent, the deputy commission and contact telephone numbers. Also in this booklet indicate the addresses, telephone numbers and working hours of public reception offices and party offices of the political forces represented by city council deputies; 1.3 In the communal newspaper "Lutsky Zamok", create a permanent section "Deputies of the Lutsk City Council", in which to talk about the lives of deputies (autobiography, work, rest) and inform about important initiatives of deputies or their factions. Initiate the introduction of such sections in local electronic media (television, radio) in the form of discussions, debates, "round tables", presentations, etc.; 1.4 By a decision of the city council, establish one week per quarter as a week of reporting and information (or a week of work with voters). On these days, city council deputies must hold meetings with Lutsk residents both at the city council and in all districts of the city in order to inform residents about current work. Also establish mandatory annual reporting (in April) by representatives of all political forces represented in the city council on their activities for the reporting year and make it public for Lutsk residents to review. 2. To the political parties whose representatives are deputies of the Lutsk City Council: 2.1 Inform Lutsk residents as widely as possible (through the media, information leaflets, announcements) about the time and place of work of the public reception offices of factions and parties; 2.2 Periodically (at least twice a year) inform Lutsk residents about their work, using personal meetings in all districts of the city and publications in the media for this purpose; 2.3 From time to time organize hot telephone lines with city council deputies for Lutsk residents, having previously informed citizens about this; 2.4 Public hearings on issues important for the life of Lutsk residents (utility tariffs, social sphere, education, medicine, etc.) must become a mandatory form of work with voters; 2.5 Require their representatives in the city council to constantly inform both members of the party they represent and all other citizens about the implementation of the pre-election program and the promises made during the election period. Project experts: Mykhailo Nakhod, Mykhailo Shelep, Bohdana Stelmakh