III. Comments on the Text on the Draft Electoral Law 

G. Media and information support of elections

Article 66 also has new language which (1) requires mass media to “report on election information according to facts and not allowing misrepresentation of information”; (2) prohibits mass media “to distinguish between subjects of election process or to give them privileges”; (3) limits the share of broadcasting time of parliamentary parties and their candidates to “not more than 30 per cent from the average amount of broadcasting time”; (4) requires equal broadcast time for participants in paid TV and radio election debates and discussions. These provisions partly address the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. It is clear from Article 66.6 of the draft electoral law that “National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine oversees and ensures compliance with the requirements of this Law as regards the participation of the media and news agencies in providing information and conducting election campaigning.” This is a positive amendment that addresses the OSCE/ODIHR recommendation to identify the body responsible for enforcing media rules.