Suchergebnisse

The article examines the peculiarities of impact of the coronavirus pandemic on electoral process and voting results on the example of 2020 local elections in Ukraine. Using the complex of general scientific, logical and empirical methods, the peculiarities and problems of holding elections to local self-government bodies of Ukraine in 2020, which took place in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been emphasized, that Ukrainian authorities didn't follow the path of most foreign countries and decided not to postpone the date of local elections in 2020. Instead, the main accent was put on the use of special mechanisms of protection for Ukrainian citizens from the spread of coronavirus infection during the process of holding local elections. The authors prove, that the COVID-19 pandemic didn't have a significant negative impact on 2020 local elections in Ukraine and didn't cause major violations, which would question the legitimacy and democracy of election procedures. At the same time, the lowest voter turnout was mainly caused by the pandemic: almost a third of Ukrainian voters did not appear at the polling stations precisely for reasons related to the pandemic. It is also outlined, that during the 2020 local elections in Ukraine, a row of other negative factors of impact on electoral process and its quality (except of the factors directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic) appeared: in particular, the problems with financial provisions for introducing special measures for voting during the COVID-19 pandemic; changing election rules (adopting the Electoral Code) on the eve of local elections; insufficient state information policy regarding the clarification of the peculiarities of holding elections under the new electoral system in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The article examines the level of democracy of the US presidential electoral system and the prospects for its transformation. In order to do this examination, considerable attention is paying on the main procedural aspects of the US presidential election, in particular, on the features of the organization of primary elections, popular voting and the expression of will of the Electoral College. Using general scientific, logical and empirical research methods, the weaknesses and strengths of the US presidential electoral system are analyzed. For instance, the disproportion of the representation of American states in the Electoral College, as well as the disproportion between the number of votes and the number of electors as a factor of two-level electoral distortions are considered. The authors argue that the issue is relevant due to the emergence of political instability in the United States, which is related to the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and its non-recognition by part of American society and the defeated candidate, which provoked domestic social and political instability and negatively affected the international image of the USA. The study concluded that the electoral system used during the US presidential election, despite some positive aspects, can be partially interpreted as undemocratic, with the existing disproportion of representation, and therefore needs to be reformed and has enough prospects and ways for it. Ways to minimize shortcomings and prospects for the transformation of the US presidential electoral system are identified. The authors emphasize that the main problem is the choice of the most rational option for reforming the US presidential electoral system, which will not lead to an even greater socio-political crisis in the United States.

The article analyzes the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on election processes and election results. Using the complex of general, logical and empirical scientific methods, the consequences and main forms of influence of the pandemic on the election process: change (postponing) the election date; use of non-traditional (alternative) voting methods; application of special mechanisms to protect citizens from the spread of the coronavirus infection during elections; changes in the level of citizens participation in the elections process; change in the quality and democracy of the electoral process; change in the dynamics of morbidity due to participation in elections, etc. have been distinguished. The peculiarities of applying the mentioned forms of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the elections process on the example of foreign countries have been analyzed. It has been concluded, that in the initial stages of the pandemic the typical reaction of governments of most countries was the postponement of the election dates. At the same time, undemocratic leaders used the pandemic as an excuse to maximize and usurp their power. Subsequently, it became more common to hold elections on the date set by law using alternative voting methods or using special security measures during elections with the traditional voting method at polling stations. It has been shown that the coronavirus pandemic did not significantly affect the democratic nature of the election process (democratic countries held elections in accordance with democratic standards, and non-democratic countries - with their violations). At the same time, the coronavirus pandemic mostly caused a decrease in voter turnout. An increase in the incidence has also been observed in the post-election period.

The article studies the place and the role of international governmental and non-governmental organizations in the democratization of the election in Ukraine. Using a set of general scientific, logical and empirical scientific methods, the authors have identified the main forms of influence of international organizations on the democratization of the electoral process: regulatory influence (development of legal documents governing compliance with international democratic standards by international organizations; assessment of compliance with democratic principles of national election legislation and creation of recommendations for its improvement); controlling influence (implementation by international organizations of short-term and long-term observation of the election campaign, voting and counting of votes); institutional and functional influence (implementation by international organizations of projects to improve the election in specific countries by providing logistical, advisory, educational assistance, etc.). The peculiarities of international organizations' implementation of the above-mentioned forms of influence during the elections in Ukraine are analyzed. It is concluded that the most important electoral role is played by international organizations in transit societies, where the promotion of electoral procedures by the international community often becomes a catalyst for democratic change in these countries. The authors argue that international organizations have pursued an active policy to support the elections in Ukraine since independence till now. They have had a significant impact on the democratization of electoral law and electoral practice of our country and contributed to the formation of democratic electoral awareness and culture of Ukrainian citizens.