The war in Ukraine continues, but a ceasefire may soon be on the horizon. President Volodymyr Zelensky has already been in power for six years as elections have been impossible thus far. When will elections take place?
According to reports, elections could be held as early as July this year, following the lifting of martial law, which Washington hopes will occur by April 20. Zelensky, who was first elected in 2019 for a five-year term, is reportedly planning to run for a second term and has ordered his team to organize elections once a comprehensive ceasefire is in place.
Lack of Preparations for Elections Currently, there are no preparations underway for elections in Ukraine, as stated by David Arahamia, the leader of the parliamentary faction of the ruling party, Servant of the People. He mentioned that all parties in parliament agree elections should be held six months after martial law is lifted.
Security Concerns The security risks remain a significant concern. Large pre-election rallies, debates, or candidate meetings would be highly risky under the current conditions. Kyiv is demanding security guarantees to prevent election sites from becoming targets of airstrikes or terrorist attacks.
Challenges with Voter Registration During the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Central Election Commission blocked access to voter lists to protect citizens’ data. The registry currently stands at about 34.7 million voters. However, due to internal displacement caused by the war, the number of registered voters has decreased as many individuals have failed to update their addresses.
Ukrainians Abroad The issue of Ukrainian refugees abroad is another challenge. As of the end of 2024, there were around 6 million Ukrainian refugees, and for them to vote, they must register at Ukrainian consulates. However, most of them have not registered, and organizing voting stations in consulates is insufficient to handle large crowds.
Electronic Voting? Some suggest remote voting might solve logistical problems, possibly through mail-in ballots or the Ukrainian app “Dija,” used by millions both in Ukraine and abroad. However, concerns about the app’s reliability and Russia’s ability to influence elections through disinformation remain significant obstacles.
Challenges Ahead The peace talks participants are expected to determine the election date. However, many aspects of the potential ceasefire and elections remain unpredictable. Ukraine must also coordinate with international partners, as it lacks the resources to conduct the elections independently.
