CEC determined which precincts in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts will participate in election

On 12 February 2019, the Central Election Commission approved the list of territorial districts, which are not going to participate in regular election of the President of Ukraine. The CEC has also approved by the same resolution the list of districts, where election will be organized. Taking into consideration the temporary occupation, regular election of the President of Ukraine will be organized in 12 of 21 TEDs of Donetsk oblast and 6 of 12 TEDs of Luhansk oblast. 

We remind that 2014 early parliamentary election was held in 12 TEDs of Donetsk oblast and 5 TEDs of Luhansk oblast. In 2019, two districts in the region will have unusually small number of election precincts (TED #51 – 2, and TED #105 – 6).

However, the number of involved precincts has increased compared to 2014 early parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

Thus, the number of such precincts has increased by 178 (85 precincts in Donetsk oblast and 93 in Luhansk oblast). At the same time, the total number of voters on state-controlled territory of Donetsk oblast has increased by almost 19 thousand voters compared to 2014 parliamentary elections. In Luhansk oblast, this number increased by 59 thousand citizens (according to official website of the CEC). 

The number of precincts participating the election has increased because the safety situation has stabilized in state-controlled settlements, where military confrontation with the Russian Federation took place during the previous national election. Safety issues, problems with formation of PECs or obstructed access to some precincts for observers will probably appear. However, OPORA believes that the voting should be definitely held in state-controlled settlements close to the front line zone (cities of Avdiivka, Mariinka, Krasnohorivka, Mariinka raion and Volnovakha raion of Donetsk oblast, Stanytsia-Luhanska and Popasna districts in the city of Schastia, and Popasna in Luhansk oblast).  These and other raions and settlements haven’t had an opportunity to vote since 2014. Therefore, it’s vitally important to guarantee proper conditions for realization of electoral rights of citizens living there. This is required by the Constitution of Ukraine and corresponds to the principle of universal suffrage, which lies in the basis of the Law on Election of the President of Ukraine.

Our observers are planning to continue learning about the conditions for organization of elections in precincts that are close to the front line. However, OPORA welcomes decision of the CEC to guarantee the realization of voting rights for bigger number of citizens.

Number of election precincts and number of voters

Donetsk oblast

The number of election precincts in Donetsk oblast, where the voting is planned to be organized, has increased by 85 precincts. Thus, the voting will be organized in 12 TEDs. During 2014 parliamentary elections, the voting was also held in 12 TEDs, but there were some changes between them.

During 2014 early election to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the voting was organized at 11 precincts in district #53. The voting process will not be organized in the city of Vuhlehirsk because it is temporarily occupied. However, election of the President of Ukraine is planned to be held at 2 precincts in district #51, which didn't participate in 2014 election. City-type settlement Zaitsevo is the center of this district in Bakhmut raion. SVR maintenance body of Bakhmut RSA in Donetsk oblast provides services for polling stations in district #51.

The number of polling stations in TEDs #45, 59, and 60, has significantly increased.  The number of election precincts in these districts has increased by 28, 33, and 40 respectively. There is no doubt about possibility of holding an election at most of these precincts, because the territories are controlled by the state. However, some polling stations are close to the territory of transitional armed conflict, and will require extra attention in formation of PECs and the voting itself.

The number of election precincts participating in the election has increased from 4 to 32 in TED #45. In 2014, TED #45 became widely known when Yukhym Zviahilskyi was elected as MP of Ukraine only in 4 election districts.

The voting will be organized now at 16 precincts in district #45 (city of Avdiivka), which didn't participate in 2014 parliamentary campaign. Situation is the same with election precincts in the town of Ocheretyno, which is now a district center where SVR maintenance body is located. Some precincts are close to the boundary line. Thus, organization of voting there might require specific security measures. For example, precinct #140579 in the village of Pervomaiske (Yasynuvata raion) will organize the voting for citizens of Pisky and Sievierne settlements, as well as the village of Vodiane, which are “hot spots” in the transitional armed conflict. According to mass media messages, security situation is also tense in the village of Vesele (Yasynuvata raion, election precinct #140584).

Number of election precincts at state-controlled territories of Donetsk oblast

The number of election precincts in TED #59 with the center in city of Mariinka (Donetsk oblast) has increased by 33. This is related to the plans to organize elections in cities of Mariinka, Krasnohorivka and other villages and settlements, where early parliamentary elections were not held. Thus, villagers from Mariinka raion will also have an opportunity to cast vote.

We would like to emphasize that SVR maintenance body is functioning in the city of Mariinka, and provides proper interaction with voters.

 For example, OPORA's representatives received high-quality consultations from its employees concerning a temporary change of voting location without changing of an election address.

In TED #60 (center in the city of Volnovakha, Donetsk oblast), the number of involved precincts has increased by 40. The reason for such increase is inclusion of settlements in Volnovakha raion, which didn't participate in the previous election. Similarly to other districts, some election precincts are close to the front line.

For example, it is planned to organize the voting in two precincts (#140520 and #140521) in the settlement of Hranitne. Regardless of a tense situation, mass media and local authorities inform that its citizens are returning home, where school and other social institutions are functioning. Military operations also cause some issues in organization of elections in election precinct #140392, which includes villages of Lebedynske and Shyrokyne in Volnovakha raion.

Comparison of approximate number of voters in state-controlled part of Donetsk oblast in 2014 and 2019 elections

Luhansk oblast

Compared to 2014 parliamentary elections in Ukraine, the number of election precincts in Luhansk oblast has increased by 93. The number of TEDs, where election is planned to be organized, has also increased. While 2014 parliamentary elections in Ukraine were held in 5 election districts, the regular election of the President of Ukraine will be held in 6 districts. According to the CEC's resolution, presidential election will be held in election district #150, which comprises of 6 polling stations.

Number of election precincts in Luhansk oblasts, which participate in the election

Election district #114 (center in the town of Stanytsia Luhanska) has the biggest increase in number of precincts, which participate in the voting. The voting was not organized in the center of district and in Stanytsia Luhanska raion (Luhansk oblast) on the previous national election. Thus, the number of election precincts, which participate in presidential election, will increase thanks to these territories. 

Although Stanytsia-Luhanska raion in Luhansk oblast is considered to be close to the front line zone, state institutions and government bodies do function on its territory.

Election district #112 (centered in the city of Rubizhne) will have 17 more election precincts, where the voting is planned to be organized, by involving cities of Zolote and Hirske (Popasna raion). For example, the city of Zolote is de facto divided into into parts that are controlled and not controlled by the legitimate government. According to information from mass media and local government, around 14 thousand citizens live on state-controlled part of Zolote.

The number of precincts in election districts #106 (centered in Sievierodonetsk) and #107 (centered in Lysychansk) will increase by 13 each. As for election district #106, we mean voting in separate villages of Propasna raion and settlements, which are part of Sievierodonetsk. In election district #107, the voting will be held in the city of Propasna, which didn't participate in the last national election.

The district with 6 election precincts (#105) will hold the vote in the city of Schastia, which didn't participate in the last national and local elections.

Settlements of Stanytsia Luhanska, Schastia, Popasna and others are still suffering from Russian armed aggression. However, the functioning of state government bodies and social institutions shows it is possible to hold the vote for citizens of these territories based on general principles of universal suffrage.

Comparison of approximate number of voters in state-controlled part of Luhansk oblast in 2014 and 2019 elections

RECOMMENDATIONS

To National Police of Ukraine

• To guarantee conditions for campaigning at state-controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

• To guarantee proper submission of nominees to PECs, which will organize the election on territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

• To learn if its practically possible to organize the election at separate election precincts, which are located on territories involved in military operations.    

The publication includes information from Resolution of the CEC #303 of 2/12/2019 from official website of the CEC.