Civil Network OPORA welcomes the resolution of the Central Election Commission of 7 October 2014 on simplification of the procedure for temporary change of voting location available for Donbas citizens. Such decision will allow millions of Ukrainian citizens from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (including internally displaced persons from the ATO area), who cannot realize their right to vote in the place of their registration because the election process and vital functions of settlements are hindered by illegal armed groups (and due to a number of other reasons), to vote either in other regions of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, controlled by Ukrainian authorities, or in any other settlement of Ukraine. According to the Deputy Head of the CEC Zhanna Usenko-Chorna, only 6 thousand citizens have submitted an application for temporary change of voting location at Parliamentary elections as of 8 October. Civil Network OPORA calls all citizens who are going to be in other location than your voting address (registration address) due to justified reasons – use your right to change the voting location – apply to the State Voter Registers as soon as possible to be able to vote on October 26.
On 7 October 2014,the Central Election Commission has passed Resolution #1529 on simplification of the procedure of changing voting location for the voters registered in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts at Parliamentary elections in Ukraine to be held on 26 October 2014. Thus, to change the voting location at Parliamentary elections, Donbas citizens should personally apply to the State Voter Register maintenance body (at the registration address or at the address of a desired voting location) until 20 October inclusive, with Ukrainian passport and the corresponding application. Submission of documents proving reasons for change of voting location is not required. Similar simplified procedure was applied in the Parliamentary election on 25 May for the voters registered in the AR of Crimea and city of Sevastopol, and now it is effective for both Crimeans and Donbasians. At the same time, the procedure of changing the voting location hasn't changed for citizens of other oblasts of Ukraine: it's necessary to submit passport, application, and a document proving the necessity to change the voting location (including but not limited to: business trip permit, current enrollment verification certificate, rental agreement, a document certifying ownership of housing, travel documents, ticket to a health resort etc.).
We remind that 171,078 citizens of Ukraine applied to State Voter Register maintenance bodies for the temporary change of voting location for Presidential election on 25 May.
Besides the comprehensive observation campaign during Early Parliamentary elections in Ukraine, OPORA conducts an awareness campaign and provides legal support to citizens who need to protect their electoral rights.
Under the awareness campaign, OPORA created an animation video about the change of voting location:
Detailed instructions on the temporary change of voting location for all categories of citizens (including those who want to vote overseas is available here.
Besides that, information on how to check if you are included in the voter list, and what to do if you are not included is available here.
