2010 Ukrainian presidential election

Presidential elections in Ukraine occurred on 17 January 2010. Since no candidate secured a majority of votes, a run-off election was conducted on 7 February between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych.

On 14 February, Yanukovych was declared President-elect, having received 50% of the popular vote. According to Article 104 of Ukraine's Constitution, the president must be sworn into office within 30 days of the official results declaration, leading to his inauguration being scheduled for 25 February.

Traditionally, presidential first-round elections in Ukraine were held in October. The Constitution mandates that regular presidential elections occur on the last Sunday of the last month of the president's five-year term. In cases of premature termination of authority, elections must be held within ninety days.

The president is elected by citizens for a five-year term through universal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot. Candidates must be Ukrainian citizens aged thirty-five or older, have lived in Ukraine for the past ten years, and be proficient in the state language.

On 1 April 2009, the Verkhovna Rada set the first-round voting date for 25 October 2009, but this was contested by President Yushchenko, leading to a court ruling that ultimately established the election date as 17 January 2010.

A total of 18 candidates participated in the presidential elections. Notable candidates included Yulia Tymoshenko, the incumbent Prime Minister, and Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the Party of Regions.

The official campaign began on 19 October 2009, with a preceding unofficial campaign starting in the summer. The Central Election Commission estimated the election's budget at ₴1.5 billion, with candidates expected to spend significant amounts on their campaigns.

The electoral process was governed by a two-round first-past-the-post system. The first round was held on 17 January 2010, and since no candidate achieved the required majority, a second round was necessary. The Central Election Commission played a crucial role in organizing the election, including the formation of territorial election districts and foreign polling stations.

The election faced legal challenges, including an appeal by Tymoshenko that led to the Supreme Administrative Court suspending the results temporarily, although this did not prevent Yanukovych's inauguration.

Following the election, Yanukovych was sworn into office on 25 February 2010. The election results and subsequent political changes had a lasting impact on Ukraine's governance and political dynamics, influencing the country's trajectory in the years that followed.