Least active parties get most representatives in electoral commissions

OPORA reports that on 24 August the Central Election Commission [CEC] held a draw for inclusion of candidates for the 225 district electoral commissions [DEC].  Political parties who have put forward at least one candidate for the parliamentary elections are entitled to take part in the draw. According to the results of the draw, only 19 political parties have gained places on DEC.  Four parties received members in all 225 DEC without exception: Youth to Power; Rus is one; the National-Labour Union of Ukraine “Brotherhood” and the Ukrainian Party “Green Planet” [all obscure – translator]

Only 5 out of the 19 political parties have put forward their candidate lists. All the other parties have confined themselves to putting forward candidates in single-mandate electoral districts.

Among the parties which will be represented on all DEC, only two have put forward more than 3 candidates for the parliamentary elections.

OPORA considers that the draw procedure for the 2012 parliamentary elections does not promote equal representation of all political forces in electoral commissions and distorts the principle of mutual control between election players.  The draw has created a situation whereby the greatest representation is received by parties which have put forward the least number of candidates. OPORA points out that it warned that this was the likely result of the draw procedure back in July.

The system is quite different from that during previous elections.  Then the draw was organized for each electoral commission separately. Now, as a result of a single draw, vacant places have been divided up in all DEC which, OPORA states, will weaken cooperation between players in the elections.