Sour Gapes. Candidate's cry wolf
Various statements by marginal presidential candidates about the
likely electoral fraud are aimed to create a background for their
post-election information campaigns and lawsuits, the leader of the
Yedyny Tsentr Viktor Baloha said Nov. 24.
Source zik.com.ua
Alarming declarations about the likely vote rigging directly point to organizational weaknesses of some candidates as the law allows for reliable barriers against any electoral fraud. For instance, any presidential candidate can send his 2 representatives to sit on local and regional electoral commissions, appoint observers to keep an eye on voting and counting of ballots. Proxies of candidates who have wide authority can also supervise the course of the voting.
“These representative must have absolute trust of their patron. Everything depends on the correct choice of a candidate and professional level of his team,” Baloha summed up.
Other effective barriers to electoral fraud are the Central Election Commission [whose members are appointed by major parliamentary parties on a quota principle] and numerous international observers. Mass media and NGOs, notably, the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, will also be effective in helping to curb fraud.
Of great importance for establishing the final tally are also exit polls run by respected polling companies.
“There are more than enough supervisory tools, as you see, and they will all be used during the campaign. All the more so that there are 18 presidential candidates, some having considerable weight. That is why any declarations about the likely fraud are just attempts to justify a defeat of those who make them. Note that those candidates who are selling themselves as strong-willed and tough are most given to such declarations. In fact, such declarations expose them as would-be losers and outsiders,” Baloha added.
Alarming declarations about the likely vote rigging directly point to organizational weaknesses of some candidates as the law allows for reliable barriers against any electoral fraud. For instance, any presidential candidate can send his 2 representatives to sit on local and regional electoral commissions, appoint observers to keep an eye on voting and counting of ballots. Proxies of candidates who have wide authority can also supervise the course of the voting.
“These representative must have absolute trust of their patron. Everything depends on the correct choice of a candidate and professional level of his team,” Baloha summed up.
Other effective barriers to electoral fraud are the Central Election Commission [whose members are appointed by major parliamentary parties on a quota principle] and numerous international observers. Mass media and NGOs, notably, the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, will also be effective in helping to curb fraud.
Of great importance for establishing the final tally are also exit polls run by respected polling companies.
“There are more than enough supervisory tools, as you see, and they will all be used during the campaign. All the more so that there are 18 presidential candidates, some having considerable weight. That is why any declarations about the likely fraud are just attempts to justify a defeat of those who make them. Note that those candidates who are selling themselves as strong-willed and tough are most given to such declarations. In fact, such declarations expose them as would-be losers and outsiders,” Baloha added.
Comments
Just because there are some perceived irregularities in the count does not invalidate the election. It needs to be established beyond doubt that any errors in the conduct of the would have produced a different outcome in the poll.
Current public opinion polls indicate that the election is not even close and that the final choice will between Yulia Tymoshenko and Victor Yanukovych.
All other candidates at this stage have no substance in their complaints. Sour gapes and disappointed in their own performance maybe. but they have themselves only to blame for that.
They could have advocated a one round preferential voting system in which case minor candidates would have a greater overall influence in the outcome of the election.
One round at half the cost. all votes count.