On 26 May 2020, the online meeting of the working group on introduction of new technologies in elections, established under the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, was held to discuss the international standards and recommendations related to the use of digital technologies in elections, as well as to exchange on the respective digital practices in other countries.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine and the Central Election Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Registry of Voters of Ukraine, the members of the Ukrainian Parliament and other Ukrainian government authorities.

During the meeting, the Council of Europe expert Ms Ardita Driza Maurer presented the Council of Europe publication “Digital technologies in elections: questions, lessons learned, perspectives”. She provided a brief overview of digital instruments and solutions used in the electoral cycle, namely, digitized documents and processes, biometry, blockchain, cloud computing, artificial intelligence.

Ms Ardita Driza Maurer also focused on the issues related to the regulatory framework which shall be addressed by a legislator/regulator when considering the use of digital technologies in elections. Those issues include international legal standards on elections and on new technologies, as well as a list of check-up questions for the regulator while developing a national legal framework on the use of new technologies in electoral process.

The presentation of the publication is available in English and Ukrainian.

The Council of Europe publication “Digital technologies in elections: questions, lessons learned, perspectives” is also available in English and Ukrainian.

*The publication, its translation into Ukrainian and its presentation was supported by the Division of Elections and Civil Society of the Council of Europe in the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Supporting the transparency, inclusiveness and integrity of electoral practice in Ukraine”.