The problem of election administration professionalization in modern public administration in Ukraine

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The problem of election administration professionalization in modern public administration in Ukraine

Valentyn Orlov

PhD in Public Administration, Associate Professor, Head of Department of management and Public Administration,

Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman,

Kryvyi Rih Institute of Economic, Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine.

The crisis of confidence in the authorities in Ukraine is largely caused by the lack of public confidence in the bodies performing public functions. Especially, it true electoral process, which accumulates problem of political choice and legitimacy. In most cases, disbelief voters in the election results and fair ballot election commissions generated unprofessional. Since the elections in Ukraine have become permanent phenomenon, there is a contradiction between the powerful nature of the powers that perform election commissions and lack of professionalism of the members of these commissions, which would facilitate the strict observance of election procedures and rules. This institutional problem of the current political spheres of society leads to negative trends in political life.

Meanwhile, elections at all levels make the experience of Ukrainian citizens to participate in elections to seek earnings during election campaigns. Commercialization of the election process creates a phenomenon where political power delegated to the electoral commissions as collegiate bodies performing public functions to legitimize power, not professionals, and politically loyal mercenaries, for which important earnings of compliance with election law. The solution is seen by us in the widest possible professionalization of election commissions of all levels. This will improve the system of election administration, increase public confidence in the election results and eliminate the tendency to commercialize the process.

Key words: public administration, electoral administration, professionalization, electoral commissions, electoral procedures commercialization of elections.

Орлов Валентин. Проблема професіоналізації адміністрування виборів у сучасному державному управлінні в Україні. Криза довіри до влади в Україні багато в чому зумовлена відсутністю довіри громадськості до органів, які виконують державні функції. Особливо це стосується виборчих процесів, що акумулюють проблему політичного вибору й легітимності. Здебільшого зневіра виборців у результатах виборів та справедливого голосування виборчих комісій генерується непрофесійно. Оскільки вибори в Україні стали постійним явищем, існує суперечність між владним характером повноважень, які здійснюють виборчі комісії, та відсутністю професіоналізму членів цих комісій, які б сприяли суворому дотриманню виборчих процедур і правил. Ця інституційна проблема сфери публічного управління призводить до негативних тенденцій у політичному житті.

Ключові слова: державне управління, адміністрування виборів, професіоналізація, виборчі комісії, виборчі процедури, комерціалізація виборів.

Орлов Валентин. Проблема профессионализации администрирования виборов в современном государственном управлении Украины. Одной из наиболее важных проблем в развитии института современных выборов является проблема легитимности избранной власти. Она обусловлена определенной непрозрачностью избирательных процессов, недоверием к тем, кто администрирует эти процессы. Поскольку выборы в Украине стали постоянным явлением, существует противоречие между властным характером полномочий, которые осуществляют избирательные комиссии, и отсутствием профессионализма их членов, которые бы способствовали строгому соблюдению избирательных процедур и правил. Эта институциональная проблема сферы публичного управления приводит к негативным тенденциям в политической жизни.

Ключевые слова: государственное управление, администрирование выборов, профессионализация, избирательные комиссии, избирательные процедуры, коммерциализация выборов.

Formulation of Scientific Problem and the Relevance of the Study

The crisis of confidence in the authorities in Ukraine is largely due to the lack of public confidence in the bodies that perform public functions. This is especially true electoral process that accumulates the problem of political choice and legitimacy. In most cases, lack of confidence of voters in the election results and fair ballot election commissions generated unprofessional. Since the elections in Ukraine have become a regular phenomenon, there is a contradiction between the powerful nature of the powers engaged in election commissions and lack of professionalism of the members of these committees that would strict adherence to electoral procedures and rules. This institutional problem of the current political spheres of society leads to negative trends in political life.

At the same time, the elections at all levels to make the experience of Ukrainian citizens to participate in elections, to seek income during election campaigns. Commercialization of the election process creates a phenomenon where political power is delegated to the electoral commissions as collective bodies performing public functions to legitimize power, not professional and political mercenaries loyal, which is important earnings compliance with the electoral law. The decision sees us in the broadest professionalization of election commissions of all levels. This will improve the management system of elections, increasing public confidence in the election results and eliminate the tendency to commercialize the administration of elections in Ukraine.

Analysis of Recent Research and Publications (Theoretical Foundations of Research Methodology and Empirical Characteristics of the Base)

The problem professionalization of management activities on election administration processes and procedures are not sufficiently studied and scientifically justified. This problem is particularly manifested in the election system of Ukraine. The experience of the election campaign period of independence suggests the absence of a clear provision to install a professional approach to the formation of administration system of electoral procedures at the local level.

Problems professionalization of management activities examined in these writings R. Ankoff, I. Ansoff, M. Armstrong, B. Becker, P. Drucker, D. Duncan, V. Zakharchenko, A. Ilyash, A. Isaev, S. Kalashnikov, B. Milner, H. Mintzberg, Y. Safonov, B. Semak, M. Uperenko, T. Chernychko M. Fleychuk, L. Szymanowska- Dianych , H. Shchedrovitski and others.

By analyzing the problems of election administration professionalization turned in his writings

I. Verzylina, E. Kolyushyn formation of organizational and legal mechanism of state regulation of the electoral process investigated Y. Klyuchkovsky, M. Stavniychuk, T. Steshenko, I. Fyetyesku, Y. Khromova, V. Shapoval, M. Shugart and others. However, complex scientific problem solving professional election administration was not held. Its leads to the need for political and management and system analysis areas of professionalization of election administration.

In addition, the formation of legitimate authorities to society in some extent incompetence threatens those who organize and implement the procedural aspects of the election process, as a result of unprofessional solve problems generated doubts about the legitimacy of the election process results.

Goals and Objectives of the Article. Based on the presence of the contradiction between the need for the tasks and functions of state agencies administer electoral processes at regional and local levels and the lack of professional, administrative, legal training officials of these bodies, which confirms the practice of all election campaigns in Ukraine for the past 25 years, the purpose of research in this article is justification for establishing a system of professional election administration, complementing the vertical management of public election system in Ukraine. Given the permanent nature of the electoral process in Ukraine, solving this problem is seen in the formation of a permanent vertical election commission vested with administrative functions on the formation, functioning and training for the system of administration of electoral procedures at election precincts, districts, and administrative units.

The Main Material and Justification of the Study

Current trends of commercialization election in Ukraine with funding of some big business parties representatives are the real threat to democratic political regime, eliminate civil society and its institutions of decision-making in the crucial field of public administration. The practice of the election process on the basis of equal representation in the composition of election commissions at all levels in transformed engagement business experienced organizers of election procedures that perform tasks instead of the state, the problem of political actors, sometimes even outside the legal field. Mostly, participate in the election means for many citizens the opportunity to get extra money for the setup of political entities, while the law defines not controlling election commissions political entities.

Modern city being urbanized form, in the electoral process at all levels for citizens generates a new kind of earnings that is associated with participation in the work of election commissions. In recent years the local environment has developed an entire social group, which occasionally offers its labor market experience, organizational skills, knowledge of election law and administration skills of political forces. Engagement this resource commercially entails a significant shift in terms of capacity in the elections to the actual private institutions, although the need for such a resource exists at central, regional and municipal authorities as the administration of election procedures.

The pursuit of financial reward and implement their experiences in the labor market during the elections can be used in the public interest and democracy, since the task of election administration at all levels are the tasks and functions of the state in the implementation mechanism of the election administration and maintenance of real democracy.

Formation of election commissions of all levels to perform tactical missions for each campaign does not promote the development of democratic trends in modern public management. Changes to legislation related to the organization and order of elections in modern Ukraine, taken at every election, more ahead of their theory and analysis, and therefore citizens should acquire general education in this field to implement its active and passive suffrage quickly acquire new professional knowledge and skills to work in election commissions [6].

Many researchers note, and the need for a modern system of election administration in the appropriate formation of election administration. This is a set of systematic theoretical knowledge of state power, the process of its formation and suffrage, practical skills on how to use this knowledge in the management of the electoral process.

Citizen participation in the work of election commissions at all levels in the current environment characterized by low levels of the members' professionalism of these commissions resulting negative impact on the organization of the election. It seems logical to claim that as managers of election commissions have the right to apply only those persons who have been trained, with experience and skills of management. Using their own experience and analysis of election campaigns system of public monitoring, we can conclude that the effective implementation of their functions, members of election commissions is possible for the acquisition of formal and actual competence in the administration of electoral procedures, establishing clear and transparent regulations regarding their legal status, determination responsibility in the profession.

An interesting, there is European experience in professional administration of election procedures. Research provisions of electoral law allow the EU to conclude that the electoral process provided employees with appropriate training. Members of electoral commissions should be legal experts, political science, and mathematics or be aware of election issues. For members of election commissions at all levels performed standard training. To participate in these trainings have also allowed members of election commissions nominated by political parties.

Based on the analysis, we can conclude that Ukraine lags behind the global trend of constant participation of people in decision-making public, including in the public elections administration. The reason for this state of affairs is the lack of basic skills joint decisions in the administration of the electoral process and the availability of direct and indirect bribery of members of election commissions of all levels [3].

Therefore, in the present circumstances to ensure transparency of the electoral process, it is advisable to introduce the following changes:

- professionalization of election administration, the introduction of clear criteria for selecting of the electoral commissions staff;

- optimization of the administration system of the electoral process with determination and enforcement of specific functions, promote unification of public data in electronic format;

- the introduction of an administration electronic system of the electoral process;

- constant updating of the personnel composition of election commissions at all levels;

- professionalization of Representatives election administration at all levels, starting with the CEC, DEC and PEC;

- opening regional offices of the CEC to improve the overall efficiency of communication and coordination between lower level election commissions for the election period;

- creation of a database of experienced members who can be hired for election on the need and the register of election commissions certified members;

- the introduction of election commissions certification will be required to undergo regular training;

- introducing liability for replacement of election commission during the election campaign.

Note that the need for certification of entities that provide services in the administration of election procedures by creating a single state register of such entities, there is not the first year. Back in 2013, the Central Election Commission initiated its ruling of January 31, 2013 № 15 «On the procedure for organizing training of persons applying for appointment of chairmen, deputy chairmen and secretaries of district election commissions on elections of people's deputies of Ukraine» create a reliable system of election commissions professionalization of all levels [1], but already in 2014 Decision № 817 from 27.08.2014 «On recognition invalid of some resolutions of the Central election Commission» refused to take further steps in this direction, limiting online testing on its website that has no legal implications for the status of members of election commissions [2].

In its study, Y. Chromova, paying attention to this problem suggests the introduction of «schools of preparation and elections conduct», which will be given the right to issue the relevant document (certificate) after undergoing training. Such training, according to scientists, it is appropriate to introduce at the NASG under the President of Ukraine, its regional institutes and regional centers of training and retraining of state agencies employees, local governments, state enterprises, institutions and organizations with the organization online learning subjects election process. Introduction of electoral process preparation will enhance the quality of elections and ensuring their equitable interaction [4].

Overall agreeing to this proposal, it is necessary to comment on the need for the formation of an integrated system of professional election administration, which, unfortunately, is absent in Ukraine, although it, as practice shows, there is an urgent need.

With these measures can provide to local communities? First they can provide to form legitimate local government. The last local elections in Ukraine have shown that the problem of legitimation of local government largely depends on the professionalism of election commission members. In a number of urban communities is having problems surrounding the recognition results. The problem of legitimation is the key one to the formation of local government under decentralization.

In addition, the certification of election commission members - an opportunity for residents to get an additional opportunity to legally salary from the budget. It will prevent some degree bribery commissioners' political actors.

The third argument may be the formation and further development of the legal and political culture of the communities' inhabitants, for attracting legally to the election procedures of the general urban population gives rise to the further development of democratic traditions in the community and a new type of political culture conscious administration of election procedures.

Conclusions and Recommendations for Further Research

egitimacy elected government

The current electoral law and the law will be effective only to the extent that they reflect the professional legal culture. This is due to urgent need theoretical information and staffing of election commissions of all levels. The value of this work goes beyond situational decisions and is in its content and form an important part of personnel policy polling relations. The establishment of the election commissions system as permanent state and municipal brings to the fore the issue of recruitment and staffing professionals.

Legal training for different categories of professionals includes compulsory study of constitutional, electoral, civil, and administrative and finance, understanding the organizational forms of election commissions, the development of modern methods of election administration, especially in critical and unusual situations, surgical skills acceptance of administrative decisions in the deficit time for implementation of various electoral activities. Significant place in the learning process should be discharged analysis of illegal election technologies during the collection of signatures, campaigning, campaign finance.

Perspective is studying international experience and organization and conduct of election campaigns is crucial to learn the model of election standards and procedures, based on the actual conditions of the current electoral system can be applied in our country. Further research and development of this subject can be associated with the formation of the list of professional requirements for level of election training commission members, their competencies, vocational training for the employees of election administration.

Джерела та література

1. Про Порядок організації навчання осіб, які претендують на призначення на посади голів, заступників голів та секретарів окружних виборчих комісій з виборів народних депутатів України : Постанова Центральної виборчої комісії № 15 від 31.01.2013 р. [Електронний ресурс]. - Режим доступу : http://www.cvk.gov.ua.

2. Про визнання такими, що втратили чинність, деяких постанов Центральної виборчої комісії. Постанова Центральної виборчої комісії № 817 від 27.08.2014 р. [Електронний ресурс]. - Режим доступу : http://www.cvk.gov.ua.

3. Ключковський Ю. Б. Виборчий процес: правова природа і суб'єктний аспект / Ю. Ключковський // Право України. - 2014. - № 7. - С. 157-166.

4. Хромова Ю. О. Шляхи вдосконалення роботи виборчих комісій в Україні / Ю. О. Хромова // Теорія та практика державного управління : зб. наук. пр. - Х. : Вид-во ХарРІДУ НАДУ «Магістр», 2010. - Вип. 4(31). - С. 166-171.

References

1. “On the procedure for organizing training ofpersons applying for appointment of chairmen, deputy chairmen and secretaries of district election commissions on elections of people's deputies of Ukraine” (2013), the Central Election Commission Decision №15 from 01.31.2013, http://www.cvk.gov.ua

2. “On recognition invalid of some resolutions of the Central Election Commission”, CEC Decision №817 from 27.08.2014, http://www.cvk.gov.ua

3. Klyuchkovsky, Y. B. (2014), “The electoral process: the legal nature and the subjective dimension”, Law of Ukraine, No. 7, Pp. 157-166.

4. Khromovа, Y. O. (2010), “By improving the work of election commissions in Ukraine”, Theory and Practice of Public Administration, Vol. 31, No. 4, Pp. 166-171.

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