The Rada is preparing a new voting format for use during emergencies
The Verkhovna Rada is considering the possibility of holding votes in an underground shelter during air raid alerts. For now, they plan to test this format, while voting by phone remains an alternative option.
According to him, no decision has yet been made regarding voting by phone; it is being considered as a “Plan B.”
As Zheleznyak reports, there is an idea to use the time while the alert is in effect to hold a vote in an underground shelter:
- Testing of the voting system in an underground shelter is scheduled for this week, with each faction testing separately.
- For now, access is granted via a QR code on a phone.
- The system works exclusively within the chamber; upon exiting (for example, to another shelter or the cafeteria), it disconnects, and re-identification via the QR code is required.
“The main issue is that the space is uncomfortable—especially for 330 lawmakers—given the high density of people. In other words, it’s suitable for critical votes once or twice a week, but not for prolonged stays,” the report states.
Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a People’s Deputy from the “Voice” party, wrote about this on his Telegram channel.
The Verkhovna Rada opened the 16th session of its ninth convocation.
The Verkhovna Rada reappointed Andriy Sibiga as Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ukraine needs to develop a mechanism for holding elections even in wartime, ensuring the right to vote for all citizens. This opinion was expressed on August 18 by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
As a reminder, on August 18, the Verkhovna Rada received nominations from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appoint Yevhen Khmara as Ukraine’s Minister of Defense and Andriy Sibiga as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Verkhovna Rada prematurely terminated the mandates of People’s Deputies Denys Maslov and Vitaliy Bezgin, who were members of the “Servant of the People” faction. Parliament adopted the relevant resolutions at a plenary session on July 17.
