- definition of the electoral rules, - pre-election campaign, - the vote, - translation of votes into seats.

1. ASSESSING
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE
2012
Mykhailo Minakov
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
November 2, 2012

2. ASSESSING ALL FOUR PHASES OF ELECTIONS
• definition of the electoral rules
• pre-election campaign
• the vote
• translation of votes into seats

3. DEFINITION OF THE ELECTORAL RULES
• new electoral Law (November 2011) reinstated a mixed electoral
system
• electoral Law novelties:
• higher party threshold – 5%
• only parties to compete, not blocks of parties
• extended rights of domestic nonpartisan observers
• additional Law on elections (July 2, 2012)
• video cameras in all voting chambers
• Internet transmission of voting process

4. DEFINITION OF THE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS

5. PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN
• party competition
• registration of candidates on party lists at the Central Election Commission has
been rather smooth
• restricted access to media for opposition parties
• majoritarian campaigns
• misuse of administrative resources is widespread
• direct buy of votes
• composition of electoral commissions
• final outcome of lottery did not ensure a balanced DEC composition

6. PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

7. THE VOTE DAY
• smooth voting around the country
• developed registry of voters
• ineffective procedure for correction of the voters’ registry in case
of error
• six exit-polls with more or less equal results
• overall positive assessment of the voting day

8. THE VOTE DAY : EXIT POLLS

9. THE VOTE DAY : VOTER TURNOUT
2012 – 57,98%
2007 – 57,94%
2006 – 58,97%
2002 – 65,22%

10. PROPORTIONAL ELECTIONS RESULTS

11. PROPORTIONAL ELECTIONS RESULTS

12. PROPORTIONAL ELECTIONS RESULTS
• 5 parties to seat in the Parliament
• approx. 6% of votes were given to parties under threshold
• first time ever – relative majority of the ruling party
• two parties with articulate totalitarian ideologies
• United Opposition visibly distantiated from democratic values
• no champions of democracy

13. MAJORITARIAN ELECTIONS RESULTS

14. MAJORITARIAN ELECTIONS RESULTS
• most of manipulations reported in connection with the
majoritarian elections
• outcome in favor of financial groups
• doubtful representation of local constituencies

15. FOUR-DAYS LONG COUNTING NIGHT

16. TRANSLATION OF VOTES INTO SEATS
• non-transparent counting
• slow counting in several districts in comparison with other
districts
• quality of counting process made the whole outcome of elections
questionable

17. TRANSLATION OF VOTES INTO SEATS