On April 19, 2005, the Institute of Electoral Law, together with the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on State Building and Local Self-Government, with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Representation in Ukraine, held a round table on the topic: "Ways to Improve Legislation on Local Elections in Ukraine".
The round table was attended by people's deputies of Ukraine, representatives of local self-government from various regions of Ukraine, the Central Election Commission and the Election Commission of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, parties and public organizations, scholars and experts on electoral law.
The main focus was on the analysis of the Law of Ukraine "On Elections of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Deputies of Local Councils and Village, Settlement, and City Heads," and on discussion of current issues of legislative support for future local elections. These issues are becoming particularly relevant in connection with the need, in new socio-political conditions, for the further establishment and development of local self-government, the development and implementation of territorial structure reform, compliance of current legislation on local elections with the requirements of the Constitution of Ukraine, and consideration of political realities and the experience of the 2004 presidential elections.
Particular discussion was sparked by the following issues: • the time frame for holding local elections, arguments regarding the expediency of combining them with elections of people's deputies of Ukraine or separating them in time; • the question of the need for separate legislative regulation of elections in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; • the electoral system for elections of deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, local councils of various levels, and village, settlement, and city heads; • active electoral rights and the formation of voter lists in local elections; • the role of the Central Election Commission in local elections; • ensuring financing of local elections; • ensuring the principles of equal conditions for campaigning during local elections; • the procedure for consideration of electoral disputes during local elections. The results of the discussions within the framework of the round table will become the basis for preparing proposals aimed at improving the legislative support for elections to local councils, city, village, and settlement heads, taking current realities into account.
The materials of the round table will be published in the next issue of the journal "Elections and Democracy".
Institute of Electoral Law 04070, Kyiv, Voloska St., 8/5, room 324 tel./fax +38-044/463-65-93, eli_org@ukr.net