On October 15, the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC addressed the faithful and all citizens of Ukraine on the occasion of the 2020 local elections.
Source: UGCC Information Department
"We call on you to participate consciously in the elections, and we ask those responsible for organizing them to make every possible effort to ensure an open and fair electoral process," the central message of the appeal goes.
Bishops advised Ukrainians:
"When choosing representatives at local authorities, we should pay attention to their compliance with such value principles as decency and responsibility, sincere and active love for Ukraine, willingness to work faithfully for the common good in society and in the state. We appeal to every citizen of Ukraine to make their own choice consciously and carefully, after careful, prayerful recognition, and under no circumstances to trade their own voice and conscience. Today, only our personal responsibility can guarantee the security of Ukrainian society and the right direction of development for the Ukrainian state."
They called on Ukrainians to take an active part in the elections, because "despite the threats posed by the pandemic, we have no right at this important time for the country to allow our fear of this danger to become a threat to Ukrainian statehood."
The UGCC asks the authorities to create appropriate sanitary and epidemiological conditions to ensure maximum security for Ukrainian citizens at polling stations.
And voters are urged to use protective masks at polling stations, maintain a safe social distance, wash their hands and treat them with antiseptic agents, and bring their own writing materials to fill out the ballot.
And one more piece of advice from the hierarchs of the UGCC: do not postpone voting until after the Liturgy, in order to avoid excessive crowds at the polling stations.