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Statements by two election observation groups highlighted the absence of any recorded systemic violations in connection with Ukraine's Feb. 7 presidential runoff election in which opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych faced off against Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko. The findings constituted a significant improvement over the 2004 presidential election, which ended in popular protests of the results, known as the Orange Revolution.

The runoff was scheduled between the top two candidates as none of the contenders received more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round of balloting on Jan. 17.

The report by Opora, a nonpartisan network of Ukrainian election monitors, said the election was conducted "in a peaceful manner" and that government officials at all levels "demonstrated responsible attitudes towards arranging and conducting the runoff." Opora's statement was based on reports from 1,003 domestic observers at polling stations across the country. For the first time in Ukraine, observers were deployed systematically to a representative sample of polling stations, using statistically based observation methodology. This methodology enabled Opora to accurately assess the conduct of the election and project the national outcome. The quantitative data from Opora's representative sample put Yanukovych at 49.6 percent and Tymoshenko at 45.9 percent, closely resembling the preliminary data issued by Ukraine's Central Election Commission (48.81 and 45.61 percent respectively, with 99.44 percent of the ballots counted). "Statistically based observation" methodology produces a statistically accurate and therefore more credible "snapshot" of the quality of an election, just as quantitative data from a representative sample makes it possible to accurately forecast election results nationwide.

The second group, the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), fielded 450 short-term observers to monitor all stages of the voting process, from the opening of the polls to the vote count itself. ENEMO's report recognized the efforts of the Ukrainian authorities to comply with international standards for democratic elections and noted that the "runoff proceeded without any reports of systemic fraud." The report also stated that the election environment "remained generally free of pressure, intimidation or harassment" and there were "no reports of the centralized misuse of administrative resources."

Both groups highlighted the areas that continue to remain in need of improvement, such as the quality of voter lists and the lack of equal enforcement of the legal provisions regarding mobile ballot box voting. In addition, ENEMO issued recommendations to the Central Election Commission, which included clarifying the procedures for mobile voting and for updating voter lists. ENEMO also called on Ukraine's election authorities to investigate reported violations and to define the role of domestic observers.

Under a cooperative agreement with USAID, NDI provided financial and technical assistance to Opora and ENEMO for their observation efforts.

• NDI Partner Groups Commend Ukrainian Elections, Offer Recommendations Before Runoff»
• Opora's report on the Feb. 7 presidential election»
• ENEMO's report on the Feb. 7 presidential election»
• Opora's report on the Jan. 17 presidential election»
• ENEMO's report on the Jan. 17 presidential election»
• Opora's pre-election assessment»
• ENEMO's pre-election assessment»

Pictured above: ENEMO representatives present their findings at a press conference following the Jan. 17 vote in Ukraine.

Published February 9, 2010