How elections should take place after the war ends: CEC head explains the process

Amid international negotiations involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia, the issue of elections has once again come to the forefront. Organizing elections after the war will require significant time and resources. One of the primary challenges is updating the voter registry. Due to mass displacement of citizens, the occupation of territories, and destroyed infrastructure, many voters risk being unable to exercise their voting rights.

Current legislation outlines procedures for holding elections after the end of martial law. However, the full-scale war has created conditions that demand adjustments to these processes. There appears to be a consensus in society and among politicians that preparing for elections after martial law ends will require more time than what is currently stipulated by law.

CEC Head Oleg Didenko shared these insights in an interview with "Ukrainian Pravda". When asked how much time - roughly speaking - would be needed to prepare for the start of an election campaign, Didenko reiterated that he always avoids pinpointing an exact date: the more time available, the better the electoral process can be organized.

“What conditions are we dealing with? Do we have de-occupied territories or not? Do we have updated election laws that specify the particulars of conducting post-war elections? What procedures are outlined there? Or does such a law even exist? What elections are we talking about - presidential, parliamentary, local, or all at once? Do we have funding for preparatory measures? What’s the situation with security and electoral infrastructure? What about voting abroad? I never give a specific date: the more time we have, the better we can organize the electoral process; the less time, the worse it will be,” he explained.