21 March in Chernivtsi were held public consultations on the procedure of redistricting in Chernivtsi oblast. The event was participated by experts of the Civic Consortium of election initiatives, activists of political parties and public organizations, representatives of state authorities, local state administrations, deputies of local councils and journalists of regional mass media.
The director of Legal research of the Laboratory of legislative initiatives Denys Kovryzhenko presented results of research “Formation of single-mandate districts in the upcoming 2012 parliamentary elections: main problems and ways of their possible solution.” According to the analysis, conducted by experts, Chernivtsi oblast will be divided into four election districts, for the first time of the electoral history in accordance with the current law Chernivtsi city must be divided between two electoral districts. Denys Kovryzhenko mentioned a problem of including or not including places of compact residence of national minorities when determining constituency boundaries.
Yuliia Tyshchenko, Head of the board of Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research, considered in detail the rights of social minorities, ethnic groups on political participation in election bodies, emphasizing that single-mandate election districts should be created so that the places of compact residence of national minorities were in one electoral district, not several It is reasonable to create conditions that promote the participation of minorities in national and local elections (the issue of language in bulletins, information about candidates on language of national minorities), particularly in places of compact residence of national minorities. This issue requires the development of legislation on national minorities in Ukraine, because the term “place of compact residence” in Ukraine in not determined by the legislation.”
A representative of the Civil Network OPORA Oleksandr Neberykut noted: “A discussion on determination on number and boundaries of election districts – is a discussion concerning what is to be taken into account first: territorial-administrative system (compliance with division into districts in the oblast etc.) or an equal number of voters in different electoral districts."
Expert from the Committee of Voters Ihor Babiuk, presented the history of redistricting in Chernivtsi oblast and his predictions on boundaries. According to the regional State Voter Register maintenance bodies, a national district for Romanian speaking population is to be formed. Sadhirskyy region of Chernivtsi city does not fit into 12% limit determined by the effective Law. It may possibly be added within 4-6 polling stations (8-12 thousand of voters) to the district of national groups, and all other polling stations left within election district which includes two other districts of Chernivtsi city – Pershotravnevyi and Shevchenkivskyi. “Settlements boundaring with Romanian speaking Glybotskyi district are proposed to be included to the district of national minorities in Storozhynets district. Therefore, big settlements with predominantly Romanian speaking population like Krasnoilsk, Chudei, Budenets will not be included to this district," - stated Babiuk.
All present agreed that similar consultations should be conducted in future for increasing influence of civil society on processes happening in Ukraine, especially before and during the election campaign.
Reference: The Civic Consortium of Election Initiatives includes Agency for Legislative Initiatives, Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research, Civic Network OPORA, and Committee of Voters of Ukraine. The event was held with the assistance of IFES. The Civic Consortium of Election Initiatives lately emphasized in its statement that the new effective Law “On Elections of the People’s Deputies of Ukraine” has a number of gaps in paragraphs concerning territorial organization of elections. NGOs expect that results of such consultations will be taken into consideration by the CEC when taking final decisions. Assessment of these elections in Ukraine by the international community and their recognition by the society and participants of the election campaign will depend on the way redistricting is to be made in the upcoming elections.