OSCE/ODIHR final report on Ukraine local elections recommends inclusive, comprehensive reform to harmonize legislation regulating all types of elections
The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 25 October and 15 November 2015 local elections in Ukraine recommends a comprehensive review of legislation, including to ensure equality of the vote and to bring laws in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations for democratic elections.
The report, published on 19 February 2016, notes that the local election law was adopted less than four months before election day and without public consultation, contrary to OSCE commitments and international good practice. It recommends that electoral reform be carried out in an inclusive manner well in advance of the next elections.
Further recommendations include allowing independent candidates to run at all levels of local councils, establishing clear grounds and procedures for invalidating results, and setting up a mechanism to enforce the gender quota requirement.
The report mentions that the Central Election Commission operated collegially overall, although the frequent replacement of members and the abuse of authority by some Territorial Election Commissions undermined confidence in these commissions. In order to ensure stability and to safeguard the independence and impartiality of the election administration, the report recommends establishing deadlines and clear grounds for the replacement of election commission members. It also recommends prohibiting payments from candidates and parties to commissioners.
While noting that the freedom of assembly was generally respected and candidates were able to campaign without undue restrictions, the report notes that wealthy donors conspicuously focused their resources on mayoral and oblast council races. The report recommends effective and proportional sanctions for all violations of election laws, and calls for a public commitment by political parties and candidates not to resort to any form of vote-buying.
Despite the numerous sources of information available to the public, voters’ ability to make an informed choice was limited. Therefore the report recommends establishing safeguards for the independence and financial autonomy of the public service broadcaster.
For the 25 October election day observation activities, ODIHR joined forces with delegations from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.