Former defence minister Fedorov's team says it is important to prepare for elections and has proposals for holding them safely – UP sources

People in former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov's team have said his call for elections does not mean that he wants to "hold them tomorrow", but is aimed at thorough preparations and resolving all issues related to the process in detail.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources close to Fedorov

Quote from a source: "Even if the full-scale war ends tomorrow, we will still face a transition period in which we fundamentally need to resolve all these issues [related to elections – ed.]. Therefore, we need to address them now, modelling voting during wartime.

With the Central Election Commission, the Constitutional Court, the laws, a new electoral code, and new polling stations. These things will have to be done under any scenario."

Details: Fedorov's team has, in particular, proposals on how safe voting could be ensured for Ukrainians.

Special polling stations could be established for military personnel on the front line. However, most military personnel would be able to vote at ordinary polling stations, as they are stationed in large frontline cities or nearby.

Ukrainian civilians in frontline regions could, in the view of Fedorov's team, vote at facilities that are already operating, such as underground schools, kindergartens and, in part, higher education institutions. For Ukrainians abroad, online registration could be made available in advance, which could facilitate the organisation of voting.

Fedorov's team is also discussing the idea of holding voting over a certain period rather than on a single day, which could reduce the likelihood of crowds gathering at polling stations.

As for which elections should be held first – presidential or parliamentary – Fedorov's team does not yet have a final position.

Background:

• In an address on 18 August, Fedorov called for measures to ensure that Russia does not get to decide when Ukrainians can once again elect their government.
• BBC sources reported that the Office of the President sees a lack of "realism" in Fedorov's idea of holding elections.

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