Yushchenko asks Constitutional Court to look at new election law

President Viktor Yushchenko yesterday said that he asked the Constitutional Court to consider the legality of specific provisions of the new on presidential elections that came into force last week. Yushchenko disputed the constitutionality of provisions that allowed changes to the lists of registered voters as late as on the day of the vote, placed restrictions on the use of absentee ballots, and several other articles of the law. The Verkhovna Rada overrode a presidential veto of the law on August 21 and it was later signed into force by Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lyvtyn. One of the key points of the law is that it shortens the campaign period before elections from 120 days to 90 days, implying that the campaign for the January 17, 2010 elections will officially begin on October 19.