Electoral reform is a crucial component of a strong and sustainable democracy in Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian election legislation ranks among the least stable in Europe. Six out of the last eight parliamentary elections in Ukraine were held under different electoral legal frameworks. Moreover, four different electoral systems were in place. In most cases, either new wording or major changes to the electoral legal framework were introduced shortly before the elections.

This prevented experts, political parties, and other stakeholders from engaging in an open, fully-fledged debate on the amendment bills. Both parliamentary and local elections shared the same set of problems. This paper outlines the most important challenges of the current electoral reform process in Ukraine.

With the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2019, international actors should take action and encourage the Ukrainian government to overcome the prevailing reform fatigue and push for the implementation of the following reform steps: a proportional electoral system with open regional electoral lists, the right to vote for IDPs, a proper legal framework for the prosecution of violations of the electoral law, and a new composition of the Central Election Commission.

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EPDE Policy Paper, June 2017: Challenges and Prospects of Electoral Reform in Ukraine