The right of Ukrainians to vote while staying abroad is in no way linked to consular registration — participation in elections only requires being included in the voter register and having a valid passport.
This was stated in an interview with LB.ua by State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Karasevych.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine official confirmed that Ukrainians abroad are reluctant to register with consular services. However, he said citizens should not be blamed for this.
“Because, essentially, what is consular registration?… It is a Soviet relic… Inside the country there was residence registration, which was transformed into registration. Abroad, this is consular registration,” Karasevych explained.
According to him, consular registration is currently just one of the services provided to citizens: they may voluntarily register and inform the state that they are temporarily or permanently residing abroad.
Karasevych also stressed that speculation about linking consular registration with voting rights is unfounded.
“This is in no way connected. Every citizen can take part in elections while being abroad,” he emphasized.
He added that voting rights depend on two conditions:
“A citizen must be included in the voter list and have a valid passport — the document on the basis of which the commission issues a ballot. That’s it,” Karasevych concluded.