The election campaign in Donetsk oblast has began early. In August and early September, OPORA recorded early campaigning realized by potential participants in the election process: gifts, meetings with voters, billboards, holidays. At the same time, authorities established that it's impossible to hold local elections on 25 October 2020 in 10 communities of Donetsk oblast. Representatives of OPORA informed about this on 8 September press conference.
Based on the calendar plan, established by the Central Election Commission, the election process has started on 5 September. In August, representatives of OPORA noticed outdoor advertising of political parties and potential candidates for heads and members of local councils. According to observers, the largest number of billboards bear advertisements of political parties Opposition Platform - For Life, Servant of the People, and For the Future. Political parties European Solidarity, Vadym Boichenko Bloc, Victory of Palchevskyi, All-Ukrainian Union Batkivshchyna also use outdoor advertising, but on a smaller scale.
Potential candidates for mayors in Donetsk oblast have also become more active. They hold meetings with city residents, stay active on social media pages, place billboards and organize celebrations. However, if they continue such charity after they acquire official status, it may be classified as bribery. Until then, potential candidates and political parties take advantage of the moment and demonstrate charity to the voters - present packages and organize celebrations. They cannot be prosecuted for such actions under current legislation.
Based on the calendar plan approved by the CEC Resolution #163 of 8 August 2020, 30 territorial election commissions were formed in Donetsk oblast by 10 August 2020. 5 of them are district TECs - Bakhmut, Volnovakha, Kramatorsk, Mariupol and Pokrov, as well as 25 city TECs. Territorial election commissions have 540 members in total. Each commission has a commission head, deputy head and secretary, as well as 15 members.
The absence of an information stand is one of the most common violations in TECs activities. According to the Procedure approved by Resolution #173 of 10 August 2020, each commission must establish its working hours and a schedule of shifts at the first meeting and place them on the information stand on the next working day by 11:00 AM.
OPORA has also developed the Code of Conduct for Public Officials During the Election Process. Ukrainian legislation doesn't give a clear regulation on how public officials should behave during elections. Besides that, restrictions for the use of administrative resources are not enough specified. For example, the Election Code prohibits officials from campaigning during working hours, provided that they are not candidates. But the use of public finances in the interests of certain candidates and parties is not regulated in any way. Therefore, when observers notice a whole bunch of misuse of administrative resources, they have to rely on international standards instead of Ukrainian legislation. The Code of Conduct, suggested by OPORA for signing, outlines major ethical requirements for public officials and civil servants, aimed to prevent any actions that could be classified as misuse of administrative resources. Once signed, OPORA will monitor its implementation and notify the public if the official who signed the document does not follow it.
Until September 10 inclusive, persons who do not live at the place of registration (or do not have registration address) have an opportunity to change their election address. OPORA has prepared a detailed instructions on how to change the election address. To motivate voters to exercise this right, OPORA has also created a social advertising video that is free for sharing (link to the video on Facebook, YouTube, and Dropbox in a quality for television broadcasts, as well as the social advertising certificate from the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting).
Election Observation Coordinator at Civil Network OPORA in Donetsk oblast Nataliia Borovska drew attention to the situation in communities skipping this election: "The voters, which have already changed their election address to communities that shall not participate in local elections, based on the Resolution #161 of 8 August 2020, are not allowed to change their election address again for the whole year. The voter may use this procedure not more than once a year. Thus, the competent authorities should make every effort to guarantee the voting rights of citizens and create conditions allowing local communities to realize the right for local self-government. At the same time, of course, the security factor must be fully studied and taken into account during the organization of elections, based on an unbiased and collegial analysis of the situation."- The Observation Coordinator emphasized.
The following communities are on the list of areas where authorities decided it's impossible to hold local elections on 25 October 2020: Svitlodarsk and Torets city territorial communities of Bakhmut raion, Myrne and Olhynka settlements, as well as Volnovakha and Vuhledarsk city territorial communities of Volnovakha raion, Sartan settlement territorial community, as well as Ocheretyn settlement, Avdiivka and Mariinsk city territorial communities of Pokrovske raion.
For comment, please contact:
Nataliia Borovska, Election Observation Coordinator at Civil Network OPORA in Donetsk oblast
tel.: + 380 (50) 544 29 56
email: [email protected]
Reference: OPORA's observation is aimed to provide impartial assessment of election administration and process, facilitate free and fair election, and prevent violations. Civil Network OPORA has been realizing a wide-scale observation of regular local elections, to be held on October 25. We have deployed 188 observers nationwide, and short-term observers will join them on the Election Day. OPORA also monitors the use of budget resources for indirect campaigning, and civic ombudsmen inspect polling premises in terms of accessibility, as well as protect voting rights of citizens.
Citizen observation of 25 October local elections on Ukraine-controlled territories in Donetsk oblast is realized by the Access Point NGO under the nationwide observation campaign of the Civil Network OPORA.
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