Election of council members heads of communities is taking place on 25 October 2020 at 29,084 polling stations, with unprecedented anti-epidemic measures. In general, OPORA's observers give a positive assessment of preparatory meetings and start of the vote, but noted some procedural issues and organizational difficulties in the work of precinct election commissions.
According to the information from Civil Network OPORA's observers, deployed to polling stations that were selected using a nationally representative sampling, most of election commissions have started the voting process and work in line with the legislation.
As a part of preparations for the Election Day, precinct commission members held morning meetings in the manner prescribed by law and with strict adherence to deadlines (no earlier than 7:15 AM) at the vast majority of PECs. However, the preparatory meetings took place somewhat earlier than scheduled at 14.3% of PECs, what have complicated the observation and oversight for electoral subjects.
Official observers had an opportunity to observe each election procedure involving preparatory meetings and opening of polling stations. Some incidents, which made it impossible for observers to fully record the key procedures of morning meetings, occurred at 1.1% of precinct election commissions. To compare, this problem was more common and occurred at 3% of PECs in 2015 regular local elections.
Election commissions started their work as usual, and civic observers haven't noticed any critical issues with attendance at meetings and organization of the voting process. Only 1.4% of PECs did not meet a quorum at the morning meeting. 7% of election commissions didn't keep the minutes of their preparatory morning meetings. In the last regular local elections, such procedural violations occurred just as often (6.5% of PECs).
The vast majority of polling stations (79.9%) opened on time, within the legitimate time constraints. However, 19% of PECs started the vote before 8:00 AM. In 2015, there were 15% of such PECs in Ukraine. In general, observers are free and unimpeded to observe from the premises of precinct election commissions since the first hours of the vote. At the same time, observers faced difficulties with realization of observation at 3% of PECs.
OPORA has deployed observers to 625 polling stations, located evenly throughout the country. Before the observation, OPORA held 2 rounds of trainings and special Election Day simulations, involving possible situations and incidents.
The observers are deployed based on random stratified sampling. The maximum margin of error for this report is below 3.17% percent. OPORA's statistically based observation is an independent activity, realized exclusively by OPORA, aimed to provide Independent information on the course of election.
OPORA has deployed observers to 625 polling stations, located evenly throughout the country. Before the observation, OPORA held 2 rounds of trainings and special Election Day simulations, involving possible situations and incidents. The observers are deployed based on random stratified sampling. The maximum margin of error for this report is below 3.17% percent. OPORA's statistically based observation is an independent activity, realized exclusively by OPORA, aimed to provide Independent information on the