According to OPORA's data, received from a statistically-based sampling of polling stations, 85,6% of PECs started their preparatory meetings not earlier than 45 minutes before voting, providing observers and other electoral subjects an opportunity to watch the preparation of polling stations to the voting. However, 14,4% of PECs started their preparatory meetings at 7:15 AM. When the PECs ignore the legislative requirements concerning the timing of preparatory meetings on the election day, electoral subjects can't verify the number of ballot papers at an election precinct, examine ballot boxes and sign control sheets, which are put to the corresponding boxes.

According to OPORA's observers, the PECs had a quorum on their preparatory meetings. Thus, at 100% of polling stations, included in OPORA's representative sampling, more than a half of PEC members attended the preparatory meetings. Almost 6% of PECs didn't keep the minutes of their preparatory meetings.

1.7% of polling stations opened later than 8:00 AM, due to the issues in preparation to the voting process. However, 98.3% of polling stations opened on time.

At 98.3% of polling stations, observers had opportunities to provide a comprehensive observation of preparatory meetings of PECs and the beginning of voting process.

Since the opening of polling stations, OPORA's observers receive information about errors in the texts of ballot papers re the facts of their inadequate production (Zhytomyr, Kherson, Kharkiv, Cherkasy oblasts). OPORA's observers watch closely the solution of problems with the ballots, and will report the situation in detail to the media after a comprehensive verification. Besides that, some PECs had to re-print ballot papers on the eve of the election day (for example, in Karashyna UTC of Korsun'-Shevchenkivskyi raion, Cherkasy oblast).

The errors in ballot papers may affect the legitimacy of elections.

Besides that, OPORA's observers reported that some PECs failed to provide an adequate guard of ballots before the voting has begun. On the eve of election day, observers reported poor communication between police and PECs concerning the protection of ballot papers.