Procedure for Voting in Local Elections

Updated: October 2023
Voter education poster produced by Ukraine's CEC detailing the voting process during local elections in October 2020.

Ahead of local elections in October 2020, Ukraine’s Central Election Commission (CEC) developed voter education posters containing QR codes which linked to corresponding audio and sign language formats. This poster details the procedure for voting in the local elections and shares information on COVID-19 safety measures at each polling station. The QR codes were added to posters at the recommendation of disabled persons organizations in the CEC’s Election Access Working Group. An English translation of the poster is available below.

 

PROCEDURE FOR VOTING IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

Voting is conducted on the day of voting in the local elections from 8 to 20 hours without a break

 

[Upper left]: RECEIVING BALLOT PAPERS

Present one of the following documents to the precinct election commission member:

  • Passport of citizen of Ukraine
  • Temporary certificate of citizen of Ukraine

To confirm that you have received the ballot papers, [provide your signature on]:

1.  the voter list

2.  the designated place on the counterfoil of each ballot paper

Receive the ballot papers from the precinct election commission member.

Remember! It is prohibited to receive ballot papers from persons other than the precinct election commission member authorized to issue the ballot papers, to encourage or force voters, through bribes, threats, or otherwise, to hand a ballot paper over to other persons.

You have no right to hand your ballot papers over to other persons.

 

[Middle left]: Have you made an error when filling out a ballot paper?

Immediately submit a written application to the election commission member who issued the ballot paper to you asking for another one.

Note: Another ballot paper will be issued only in exchange for the one that was incorrectly filled out.

The issuance of a [new] ballot paper [to replace the] one that was incorrectly filled out may not be repeated.

 

BALLOT BOX

Personally drop the completed ballot papers into the ballot box.

A voter who, as a result of health problems (in connection with disability, temporary health disorder, or age), is unable to drop the ballot paper into the ballot box personally has the right, after informing the chairperson or other precinct election commission member, to ask another voter to drop the ballot paper into the ballot box in the voter’s presence.*

 

[Bottom left]: ELECTION PRECINCT CLOSING

At 5 minutes to 20 hours, the precinct election commission chairperson announces that the voting is about to end and that the election precinct will be closed at 20:00 hours.

At 20 hours one of the members of the precinct election commission invites all voters who have not voted yet to enter the polling station and then he/she closes the door.

 

[Upper right]: A BALLOT PAPER IS TO BE FILLED OUT BY THE VOTER IN PERSON

When filling out a ballot paper, the following is prohibited:

  • presence of other persons in the booth  for secret voting
  • taking photos or videos using any method

A voter who, as a result of health problems (in connection with disability, temporary health disorder, or age), is unable to fill out a ballot paper personally has the right, after informing the chairperson or other precinct election commission member, to use the assistance of another voter in the voter’s presence*

 

[Bottom right]: ON THE BALLOT PAPER

For the election of deputies to:

  • an oblast, rayon, or city rayon council;
  • a city, settlement, or village council (of a territorial community with 10,000 voters or more)

put a “plus” or other mark certifying the expression of your will in the empty box next to the name of the local organization of the political party you vote for; and in the box with the grid enter the number of the candidates you support.

For the election of:

  • deputies of a town, village, or settlement council (of a territorial community with less than 10,000 voters);
  • village, settlement, or city mayor

put a “plus” or other mark certifying the expression of your will in the empty box next to the name of the deputy candidate or the candidate to the position of village, settlement, or city mayor you vote for.

Remember! You can only vote for one local organization of a political party, one deputy candidate, and one candidate for the position of village, settlement, or city mayor.

Note: If on a ballot paper for the election of deputies of an oblast, rayon, city rayon, city, settlement, or village council (of a territorial community with 10,000 voters or more), marks were placed next to the names of several local organizations of political parties or if no mark was placed next to the full name of the local organization of a political party, such ballot paper will be considered invalid. If on a ballot paper for the election of deputies of a town, village, or settlement council (of a territorial community with less than 10,000 voters), or a village, settlement, or city mayor, no mark was placed or marks were placed next to the names of several candidates, such ballot paper will be considered invalid.

 

[Bottom center]: *Except for a member of the election commission, a deputy candidate, a candidate to the position of village, settlement, or city mayor, a candidate’s agent, an authorized person of the local organization of a political party, or an official observer.