Most Ukrainians oppose online voting in presidential elections, a KIIS poll says

Most Ukrainian citizens have a negative attitude toward the idea of online voting in presidential elections, which the authorities are considering holding.

This is shown by the results of a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

According to the poll, 60% of respondents spoke out against the idea of voting online, while only 35% support it.

The researchers noted that when the survey clarified the risks of possible falsifications, the level of critical attitudes toward online voting rose to 71%, while support fell to 21%.

“And instead, only 21% choose the option that this is a step forward in the technologies of democracy. Moreover, in 2023, in response to a similar question, 69% said they viewed it negatively because of the risk of falsifications (versus 29% who viewed it positively). That is, no significant changes have occurred over the past few years,” the report says.

At the same time, 64% of respondents are convinced that holding presidential elections 2–3 months after a possible ceasefire is necessary to demonstrate Ukraine’s readiness for an electoral process. Only 18% of those surveyed see this as an attempt by incumbent President Volodymyr Zelensky to stay in power.

Also, 55% support holding a referendum on a peace agreement, while 32% are against it.

The poll was conducted January 9–14 using telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers in all regions of Ukraine. 601 respondents were surveyed.

As a reminder, according to the results of recent studies, Zelensky would lose in a second round of presidential elections to former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, as well as to Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov.