Ukrainians in New York City vote for their parliamentary candidates

New York - The Consulate of Ukraine reports that 447 Ukrainians took part in the Parliamentry elections process at electoral district No. 71, New York City, on March 31, 2002. According to observer Ihor Dlaboha (Ukrainian Congress Committee of America), the process was orderly and without incident, although at various times during the day, voters may have waited up to 40 minutes before reaching the registration table. Mr. Dlaboha cited the outdated "procedure that required many signatures and countersignatures" as the reason for the delays, but added that under the circumstances it was necessary as a "guarantee against duplication or cheating."

Overall the atmosphere was "cheerful," according to Consul Natalia Martynenko. Voters, patiently waiting on line, even broke into collective singing of popular Ukrainian folk songs to pass the time. The majority of Ukrainian citizens participating in the election process at District No. 71 were from New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Mr. Dlaboha also noted that a substantial number of the voters were students from area universities. When asked about their reason for voting, the answer most often heard was, "because they feel responsible for the fate and destiny of Ukraine."

	Party/Bloc	# of Votes
1 .	Our Ukraine (Nasha Ukrayina)	304
2.	Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc	68
3.	For a United Ukraine (Za Yedynu Ukrayinu)	47
4.	Socialist Party of Ukraine	7
5.	Communist Party of Ukraine	3
6.	Democratic Bloc	2
7.	Women for the Future (Zhinky za majbut'nie)	2
8.	Rus' Bloc	2
9.	SDPU(o)	1
10.	People's Movement (Narodniy Rukh)	1
11.	Seafarers (Mors'ka)	1
12.	All-Ukrainian Labor (Vseukrayinska trudiashchykh)	1
13.	Unity (Yednist')	1
14.	Invalidated ballots	2

Voter registration at the Consulate of Ukraine

Election observers Slava Rubel and Ihor Dlaboha