Ukraine Regime Elections To Begin

Ukrainians are voting in local elections that may influence the political situation in the country and help the best performing parties gain potential for future parliamentary elections.  Experts do not rule out that early elections to the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, may take place already next spring.  Ukrainians are voting to elect 10,778 local councils. No voting will be organized in the Donbass region: neither in 271 settlements controlled by Kiev nor in the territories under militia’s control.

Ukrainians are electing deputies of regional, urban and district councils through the proportional electoral system.

The electoral barrier for political parties has been raised to 5% As a result, the number of deputies at all levels will be cut by a third from the current 220,000.

The election results will be announced no later than November 20.

A poll of GfK Ukraine social research group suggests that 69% of Ukrainian electors are going to take part in the local elections.