"Steady Turnout of Early Voters in Eastern Ukraine"

Elections intended to legitimize two self-declared new countries in Eastern Ukraine (Donetsk and Lugansk) have had a steady turnout of voters so far. With the ballot boxes being transparent, the majority of the ballots seemed to be in support of the referendum, in support of the secession. Many in support of the referendum say that they are because they are fed up with their government and they hope that this will make a change. However, in these elections that were so quickly thrown together, there is a high potential for fraud but there is not much being done to prevent or combat it. Other countries have given their opinions about this election- "The United States and European nations say they have no intention of recognizing the ad hoc vote, no matter the results, calling it illegal and likely only to worsen the lethal violence in Ukraine's east".

The ballot in Donetsk has the single question, "Do you support the act of self-rule for the People's Republic of Donetsk?" With language like that, it's hard to know exactly what the people are voting for and what the implications of the vote might be.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/12/world/europe/ukraine-referendum.html?ref=world&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Europe&action=keypress&region=FixedLeft&pgtype=article

Ann Nenoff