What about the count?

Ukraine’s Central Electoral Committee has made a final decision as to the start of the election campaign. On December 30 the CEC will meet in its first session to formally announce its beginning. At its December 10 session the CEC scheduled the main preparatory activities pending the parliamentary elections slated for March 31, 2002. Accordingly, on December 30 the CEC will endorse a decision on the number of single-member constituencies. Candidates both from nationwide party rosters and from single-member constituencies will be nominated from January 5 through January 24. The CEC will endorse the composition of electoral committees in 225 constituencies before January 9.

Documents for the registration of nominees from party rosters in the multimember constituency and from single-member constituencies must be submitted to the CEC before January 29. The CEC will decide whether to register a nominee or deny him or her registration by February 3. Canvassing will officially start on February 9 and is scheduled to end on March 29 at midnight. Electoral districts are to be set up by February 8, with electoral district committees to be formed by February 23. According to Interfax-Ukraine, settlement accounts of the campaign funds of parties, blocs, and nominees from single-member constituencies are to be opened before February 8. By February 26 the CEC by drawing lots has to assign numbers to parties and blocs under which they will be listed in the election roster. It will endorse the form and content of the ballots in the multimember nationwide constituency and constituency committees in single-member constituencies will follow suit. The CEC has to poll the returns of the vote on party rosters no later than April 15 and officially publish the results of parliamentary elections within five days. The deadline for applications to be lodged by parties and blocs wishing to delegate their representatives to constituency committees is January 4. Before January 7 the CEC by lot must assign the representatives of parties and blocs, that failed to clear the 4% hurdle during the previous parliamentary election and are not represented in parliament to electoral committees in constituencies. By February 8 the CEC and electoral constituency committees by drawing lots are to provide airtime and print space for campaigning to be done at the expense of the state budget, and by February 15 publicize the decision on setting up electoral districts in the mass media. By February 15 the leadership of parties and blocs should nominate their representatives to be delegated to district electoral committees. From March 6 through March 30 the electoral district committees will issue voters’ authorizations to those unable to cast their ballots in the district of permanent residence. Before March 15 electoral district committees should compile lists of voters. Resources from the electoral funds may not be used after March 30. The vote will be held on March 31 from 8:00 to 20:00 to be followed by the vote count.