Eurasia Foundation grantees played role in recent elections (06/14/98)

Eurasia Foundation grantees played role in recent elections

WASHINGTON - On March 29, for the second time since their country's independence in 1991, Ukrainian voters cast their ballots and ushered into power a new Verkhovna Rada. The devotion and hard work of many international and Ukrainian non-governmental, non-political organizations helped pave the way to a smooth and active round of elections. With no major violations reported by international and domestic observers at the polling stations (in contrast to the 1994 parliamentary elections), proponents of a democratic Ukraine can rejoice at the free and fair manner of the March elections.

Despite reports of a prevailing apathetic attitude around the country, close to 70 percent of the population voted. A consortium of U.S. and Ukrainian organizations spearheaded by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), with funding from the Eurasia Foundation, which contributed to the impressive voter turnout. Their three-month "Focus: Ukraine" voter awareness program targeted the country's population between the ages of 18 and 30.

The consortium used a multimedia program of civic education to encourage young voters to take responsibility for their future, including weekly voter education programs, public service announcements (radio, television and newspaper) and innovative meetings with candidates and party representatives, which took place directly prior to "Rock the Vote" music festivals.

Another Eurasia Foundation grantee worked to ensure that votes were cast and counted properly. "In the 1994 parliamentary elections," remarked Eurasia Foundation grantee Ihor Popov, "intimidation of voters and irregularities in the balloting process were widespread. Unfortunately, this helped undermine public faith in the elections and in some cases, the entire government structure. Our goal was to rebuild people's faith in the democratic process and increase voter confidence in the outcome of the March 29 elections."

Mr. Popov's organization, the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU), was able to do just that by conducting the most reliable and extensive non-partisan elections monitoring throughout Ukraine. With help from the American organization National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), CVU recruited, trained, equipped and deployed over 17,000 volunteers as independent election monitors in every oblast in Ukraine. The monitors called CVU headquarters and reported any violations that they had witnessed during election day. Reported violations were followed up with the Central Election Commission. One international election monitor, brought in by NDI, explained: "In many cases, the very presence of monitors at polling stations and during the balloting process helped discourage illegal election activities. Violations that were noticed by CVU monitors during the day were quickly called in, and in many cases, taken care of at that time."

To many people around the world, the results of the 1998 Verkhovna Rada elections are viewed with some pessimism for the future of Ukraine's reform movement. However, 10 years from now, long after the actual 1998 parliamentary elections have been over and forgotten, the process will be remembered for being free and fair.

Created by the U.S. government in 1993 and currently funded by a mix of public and private donors, the Eurasia Foundation is an independently managed grant and loan making organization headquartered in Washington, with field offices in 12 of the republics of the former Soviet Union.