Arachamiya proposes hybrid elections: online voting for Ukrainians abroad and internally displaced persons.

Voting issues during elections in Ukraine

According to ТСН: The head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arachamiya, believes that one of the most important challenges of elections in Ukraine is ensuring the will of Ukrainians who are abroad and internally displaced persons. He suggests implementing a hybrid voting model, which would include both online and offline options.

Arachamiya noted that in some countries, there are legislative restrictions on opening additional polling stations, which will require additional funding.

"We will need to resolve the issue of either doing this [voting for Ukrainians abroad] over several days or returning to the issue of hybrid voting using online mechanisms," said Arachamiya.

According to the MP, as a former IT specialist, he is surprised by the fears regarding online voting, which he called "phantom fears."

"I hope your working group will seriously consider whether it is actually possible to conduct hybrid voting — online and offline," he suggested.

Arachamiya also emphasized that the complexities of the electoral process will be caused by the large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs). He pointed out:

"We have a register of IDPs, but it does not have accurate data; many IDPs do not register in order to avoid being identified for mobilization. How we bring them to the polling stations, we also do not yet understand, but we need to bring everyone," he said.

Arachamiya explained that low voter turnout can give the enemy grounds to question the legitimacy of the elections.

"Maximizing turnout, it seems to me, can be achieved by expanding voting opportunities — either adding a few days or providing online voting options," he concluded.

Earlier, an advisor to the head of the President's Office, Mykhailo Podoliak, reported on the impossibility for Ukraine to finance the elections independently due to budget deficits.

Elections in Ukraine continue to be in the focus of politicians and the public. Such important topics, like the accessibility of voting for all Ukrainians, especially in wartime and uncertainty, require careful discussion and a balanced approach. The successful implementation of new voting models could increase turnout and ensure the legitimacy of the elections, which is critically important in this challenging time.