Only 8% of Ukrainians trust mail-in voting: survey results.

According to ТСН: In Ukraine, there is a low level of trust in online voting. Recent studies have shown that only 8% of citizens support the idea of mail-in voting. As for online voting, it has not gained popularity due to concerns about cyberattacks and voter verification.

This was noted by Olena Shuliak, head of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the organization of state power, local self-government, regional development, and urban planning, during the "Morning.LIVE" broadcast.

Experience of Estonia and Ukrainian realities

Olena Shuliak mentioned that the committee commissioned a special study from international partners regarding the possible introduction of online elections in Ukraine. The results turned out to be not entirely optimistic for supporters of digitalization:

"Currently, there is a very low level of public trust in both online voting and mail-in voting. It seems to me that only 8% trust mail-in voting, and the percentage for online elections is also low," the MP reported.

She compared the Ukrainian situation with Estonia, where over 50% of voters vote online, noting that this path has been long.

"Estonia took 25 years to reach online voting. They made improvements to the system... Because when we talk about online elections, the main question is not even interference, but the possibilities for identifying individuals, all the possibilities associated with the secrecy of voting," Shuliak noted.

Mobile polling stations: is it safe?

In response to experts' inquiries regarding alternatives, Shuliak considered the possibility of creating mobile voting points. She cited examples of services that are already operating in frontline areas or remote villages.

"We have mobile administrative service centers, we have mobile social security centers. I think if this mobile polling station can meet all the rules for conducting fair democratic elections — then why not, if everything is provided," the committee head reported.

However, the politician rejected ideas that could open up opportunities for falsifications.

"But if you understand that this mobile polling station has already taken off with available ballots and no one understands its route, then I believe that no one will allow such mobile polling stations and elections," added the committee head.

It should be noted that the U.S. President emphasized the need to hold presidential elections in Ukraine, claiming that Kyiv "is using the war to avoid holding elections".

Also, previously, the Central Election Commission noted the impossibility of holding elections without changes in legislation.

In the Verkhovna Rada, the possibility of holding elections within a 90-day period after a ceasefire is being considered.

Only 10% of Ukrainians believe that elections should take place before the ceasefire, while in September — 11%.

Moreover, Zelensky believed that Ukraine missed the chance to prepare the legislative framework for elections during the war as early as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thus, the issue of holding elections in Ukraine remains acute. Despite the necessity to ensure voting capacity, public trust in electronic forms of voting remains low. After the war ends, Ukraine will need to work effectively on restoring trust among the population and preparing the necessary legislative changes.