CEC proposes a 6-month transition period between the end of martial law and the start of elections
Kyiv • UNN
The Central Election Commission proposes to establish a six-month transition period between the end of martial law and the start of the election process. This period will allow for preparations for elections, taking into account the consequences of the war and mass displacement.
The Central Election Commission of Ukraine proposes to establish a six-month period between the end of martial law and the beginning of the election process during elections. This is stated on the CEC website, writes UNN.
Details
CEC Chairman Oleh Didenko presented the body's achievements during a meeting of the subgroup on administrative issues of the working group on preparing comprehensive legislative proposals regarding the specifics of organizing and conducting elections during a special period and post-war elections.
In addition to Didenko, the co-chair of the subgroup is People's Deputy Olena Shuliak, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Building, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning.
According to Didenko, the commission had several tasks, including facilitating parliamentary and inter-institutional discussion on preparing for post-war elections. At the same time, the document it prepared "is not comprehensive and does not answer all questions, but it is a basis for further dialogue."
The CEC's comprehensive proposals aim to legislate:
- election appointment deadlines;
- a transitional period for preparing for the election process, taking into account the consequences of the war and mass displacement;
- the realization of electoral rights of internally displaced persons, military personnel, and voters abroad;
- information support and campaigning abroad;
- countering foreign interference and implementing security protocols.
In particular, the CEC chairman informed that the Commission proposes to establish a 6-month preparatory (or transitional) period after the termination of martial law and before the start of the election process. At the same time, the terms of the election process remain unchanged – 90 days for the election of the President of Ukraine and 60 days for the election of people's deputies of Ukraine.
Didenko explained that the preparatory period is needed, in particular, to assess the possibility of holding elections in certain territories, analyze the readiness of election infrastructure taking into account the consequences of the war, conduct an analysis and calculations of expenses by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the creation of additional foreign polling stations, and ensure the interaction of registers to clarify information about voters.
He specifically pointed out the norms for ensuring the electoral rights of displaced persons, military personnel, and voters abroad. According to Didenko, further liberalization of procedures for changing the electoral address and polling place is proposed.
The commission also proposes to enshrine at the legislative level the norm that elections are not organized or held in Russia and Belarus, although Ukrainian voters from there will be able to vote in neighboring safe states.
The head of the commission also emphasized the need for effective tools to counter foreign interference and develop security protocols during elections.
According to the CEC, Olena Shuliak reported that her committee is currently considering 23 draft laws related to various aspects of elections.