Ukraine’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has restored the operation of the State Voter Register, marking the first reopening of the system since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to an official statement.
The step comes amid renewed debate around elections during wartime, fuelled by external pressure from the United States and repeated Russian calls for Ukraine to hold a vote. Under Ukrainian law, however, elections are prohibited during martial law, and authorities say active hostilities, security risks, and large-scale displacement make a legitimate electoral process impossible.
Voter registry back online after cybersecurity overhaul
The CEC said the register has been restored in the part related to interaction with citizens, including access to the online portal. The system was suspended shortly after the invasion to protect personal data and reduce cyber threats.
Deputy CEC head Serhiy Dubovyk said the decision followed prolonged technical and organizational work focused on cybersecurity, data protection, and the stability of election-related digital systems under wartime conditions.
“The CEC is working to maximally protect voter data while at the same time ensuring openness and accessibility of public information resources,” Dubovyk said.
"One of the basic conditions for holding any elections"
David Arakhamia, leader of the ruling Servant of the People parliamentary faction, said the decision enables the renewal of interaction between election authorities, citizens, and state institutions.
“Updating the voter register is one of the basic conditions for holding any elections,” Arakhamia said, adding that the war has significantly affected Ukraine’s demographic situation and that the register must reflect those changes.
Election demands from Washington and Moscow
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Zelenskyy of using the war to avoid elections - a claim that echoes Kremlin talking points about the Ukrainian president's "illegitimacy."
In response, Ukraine's parliament formed a working group on 22 December to examine the possibility of wartime elections, though officials maintain that voting during active combat remains impractical.
Millions unable to vote under current conditions
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said that elections during active war would endanger voters, election workers, and candidates, while undermining ballot secrecy, equal campaigning conditions, and oversight in frontline and occupied areas.
Millions of Ukrainians are abroad, internally displaced, or serving in the armed forces, complicating participation and verification.
Zelenskyy: elections only after security guarantees
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine could only be ready for elections after security guarantees are in place and relevant legislation is adopted, dismissing calls to vote under martial law as both illegal and vulnerable to exploitation by Russia.
On 9 December, Zelenskyy stated he was ready to hold elections within 60 to 90 days - but only if the US and European allies guarantee security for the voting period.
