Equal Suffrage

1. Elections shall be based on equal suffrage. Ukrainian citizens shall participate in the elections on an equal basis.

2. Each voter shall have one vote in each election, in which he or she is entitled to participate.

A voter may exercise his or her right to vote only at one election precinct where he or she is included in the voter list. In an event that different elections are held simultaneously a voter may exercise his or her right to vote only at one election precinct, common for all elections which take place simultaneously.

A voter shall exercise his or her right to vote in an election according to the procedure established by this Code.

3. All candidates registered in accordance with the procedure established by this Code shall have equal rights to participate in the election process in the election in which they are nominated and shall participate in this process on equal terms for the respective election.

4. All parties (party organizations) that acquired a status of electoral subjects according to this Code shall have equal rights and opportunities to participate in the election process of the respective national (respective local) election in accordance with the procedure and within the limits prescribed by this Code.

5. In terms of participation in the election process of the respective election, the equality of rights and opportunities for both candidates and parties (party organizations) that are electoral subjects shall be ensured through:

1) prohibition of candidates’ privileges or restrictions based on subject of nomination, race, color of skin, political, religious and other beliefs, sex, ethnic and social origin, material status, place of residence, disability and health, language or other grounds;

2) prohibition of interference of state executive bodies, state bodies of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and local self-government bodies, their officials with the election process, except the cases specified by this Code;

3) equal and unbiased treatment of candidates and parties (party organizations) that are electoral subjects by the state bodies, bodies of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, local self-government bodies, state and municipal enterprises, establishments, institutions or organizations, as well as their officials;

4) prohibition on the use of resources other than those of the electoral fund of the party (candidate, party organization) for election campaign funding;

5) equal and unbiased treatment of candidates and parties (party organizations) that are electoral subjects by mass media.

6. The mass media, information agencies shall report on the election process and events related to the election ensuring balanced, reliable, complete, accurate and objective information being disseminated, and information accessibility, with due observance of the provisions of the Laws on information and mass media, as well as journalism ethics and standards.