The MPs from UKROP have submitted a number of amendments to the Draft Election Code (No. 3112-1) for consideration by the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy and Justice. The initiative was supported, in particular, by Taras Batenko, Iryna Konstankevych, Valentyn Didych, Oleksandr Dubinin, Vitaliy Kupriy, Oleksandr Shevchenko and Viktor Shevchenko.
Thus parliamentarians initiate lowering of the vote threshold for the elections to the Verkhovna Rada to 3%. In addition, the UKROP members propose that the Parliament appoint new members of the Central Election Commission on a competitive basis, in accordance with the Law “On Civil Service”, and not upon the recommendation of the President of Ukraine.
“This is an important instrument to start changing the system, which still cannot be broken by any Maidan. New election rules reflect public opinion and meet its needs. Therefore, UKROP supports the adoption of the document and initiates the appeal of the local councils in its support. We will fight for the adoption of this Code together with other democratic parties!” said the head of the UKROP political council Taras Batenko.
The MP has also noted that after the introduction of the necessary amendments, the new Electoral Code would allow to refuse the principle of selling districts. In addition, citizens will finally be able to vote for specific candidates, and not for the party that offers a pig in a poke.
At the same time, UKROP representatives propose to cancel registration of the candidate or all party nominees after two CEC warnings.
Such warnings should be based on a court decision establishing whether a candidate or a political force has violated the Electoral Code during any election.
In addition, parliamentarians insist on the abolition of the provisions on self-nominated candidates and lists of independent candidates in all elections, except for the presidential ones.
Besides, UKROP insists on the necessity to ensure electronic counting of votes by scanning a ballot in which the voter has made his choice. This will help to avoid manipulation and accelerate the count of votes.
While preparation for the second reading from the document should be excluded the provision according to which changes in the quantitative composition of the next convocation of local councils of all levels is set by the current convocation.
The MPs also propose not to include in the body of the law the provision regarding the necessity of collecting and submitting subscription letters in various elections, except in the case of a referendum.
