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.

Об этом свидетельствуют результаты опроса Киевского международного института социологии (КМИС).

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.