The Committee for Open Democracy announces its plans to officially observe the October 25 and November 8 National Local Elections in Ukraine. “We are pleased to once again observe elections in Ukraine” said Executive Director Brian Mefford. “Since 2010 COD has consistently been one of the largest and most effective international observer organization working in Ukraine” Mefford added. The elections of local councils and mayors will be held throughout Ukraine, except in the occupied areas of Crimea, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. In addition, the elections will be held under a new election law which includes an open-list party system, a reduction in the number of council seats, and runoff elections for mayors in cities over 90,000 populations.
“These elections are the most important local elections in Ukraine’s history due to the upcoming decentralization of powers to the regions” said COD President Tom Nolan. “The newly elected councils and mayors will have more budget powers than ever before” Nolan stated. COD’s first election observation mission was during the National Local Elections in Ukraine in October 2010. In addition, COD has observed the 2012 Special Mayoral Elections, 2012 Parliamentary, February 2013 Special Local Elections, December 2013 Special Parliamentary By-Elections, 2014 Presidential and Local Elections, and the 2014 Parliamentary elections in Ukraine. This will mark the 17th election that COD has observed since its founding. COD anticipates fielding dozens of volunteers observers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Georgia, Greece, and Poland.
Individuals interested in serving as volunteer election observers should complete the online application no later than October 15.
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