The Central Election Commission and local cells of political parties have properly realized their functions in regard to formation and staffing of key collegial bodies responsible for the organization of local elections on 25 October 2020 and overall election administration in oblasts, raions and cities.

On August 10, a draft law amending the Election Code was registered in the Parliament. It is mainly aimed to correct technical drawbacks in the Election Code, but there is also an innovation, which raises the certain concerns.

OPORA hereby expresses its support to Belarus people in their pursuit for free and fair elections. Systemic violation of international standards and best practices in the organization of elections in the Republic of Belarus led to the delegitimization of the voting results and the campaign winner announced by the Central Election Commission.

In the letter of the Central Election Commission to oblast, district, city and Kyiv district commissions, dated August, 11, 2020, the CEC highlights the peculiarities of job remuneration in August for election commission members who exercise their duties on a permanent basis.

Civil Network OPORA and the Central Election Commission will cooperate to implement the open data policy, including the development and creation of online services adapted for the CEC.

On August 13, Civil Network OPORA and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to produce an awareness-rising mini-series about local elections for the platform Diia: Digital Education.

Civil Network OPORA has officially launched a wide-scale observation campaign for the next local and the regular local elections in the territorial communities, scheduled for 25 October 2020. OPORA realizes civic observation to provide impartial assessment of election process and its administration, as well as to prevent electoral violations through an efficient citizen watchdog.

Application of the new electoral framework provokes broad discussion on the level of election administration bodies and expert community. Due to legal ambiguity, the issues arose about the scheduling of the first elections of deputies to district councils and the first local elections in the amalgamated territorial communities (hromadas). OPORA prepared a brief explanation for the most resonant aspects of scheduling the first local elections in 2020.