The Rada amended the law on elections of people's deputies

The Verkhovna Rada introduced changes to the Law "On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine". 319 deputies voted for the adoption of the Law "On Introducing Changes to the Law 'On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine'" (draft law No. 6531-2), with 226 required.

The law does not provide for changes to the 3% election threshold. The changes to the law on the election of deputies provide for the division of polling stations into three categories: ordinary - for voting at the place of residence, special - at the place of stay of voters with limited mobility, and foreign. The changes to the law also provide that stations are divided into small - up to 500 voters, medium - up to 1,500 voters, and large - more than 1,500 voters.

In the new version of the law, the powers of election commissions are also more clearly formulated, the creation of voter registration departments is provided for, which must form general voter lists, while the process of creating and clarifying voter lists begins on September 1. The law clearly defines the state bodies that must provide the information necessary for forming general lists.

The law provides that a court challenge to the non-inclusion or incorrect inclusion of a voter in the list is terminated 2 days before the elections, while new voters are not included in the voter list on election day.

The law provides, in a somewhat limited scope, for the introduction of the institution of official observers from public organizations, which corresponds to the recommendations of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; it is provided that Ukrainian citizens cannot be official observers from international organizations.

According to the law, it is planned to produce election ballots in a quantity 2% greater than the number of voters; the production of ballots is ensured at one enterprise 7 days before election day.

Deputies decided how they will be elected

www.PRAVDA.com.ua, 7.07.2005, 21:36

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the law "On Elections of People's Deputies", which provides for holding elections to parliament on a proportional basis. 319 deputies voted for it.

According to the law, elections are held according to the election lists of candidates from political parties and blocs. It is provided that the lists of parties and blocs that received at least 3% of the votes of voters who participated in voting take part in the distribution of deputy mandates.

Regular elections of deputies will take place on the last Sunday of March, and the election process will begin 120 days before the elections.

The law provides that parties and blocs that have parliamentary factions have the right to submit candidates for membership in election commissions, and parties that do not have factions are included in election commissions by drawing lots.

To form the voter list, voter registration departments are created for voters residing in the respective territory. In addition, to ensure civil control over the process of compiling the voter list, a control group is created under the Central Election Commission, which will include, among others, representatives of parties participating in the elections.

A voter can be included in the voter list only once and only at one polling station. Absentee certificates are produced in a quantity of 2% of the number of voters entered in the general voter list.

Parliament also removed the prohibition that a voter who has already voted does not have the right to re-enter the premises of the election commission.

In addition, the law allows the Central Election Commission, in the event of a violation of the norms of the law on campaigning, to temporarily deprive media outlets of their license.

The name of a party or bloc participating in the elections may not contain the surnames of people who are not candidates for deputies from this bloc, as well as the surnames of historical figures. Also, such names and surnames cannot be used in the official name of even one of the parties participating in the bloc.

The law will enter into force on October 1, 2005, except for Articles 38 and 39 regarding the procedure for compiling voter lists, which will enter into force as early as July 1.