Ukrainian presidential election

Ukrainian presidential elections determine the individual who will serve as the President of Ukraine for a five-year term. The elections have occurred seven times since the establishment of the presidency in 1991, specifically in the years 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2010, 2014, and 2019.

The next presidential election was planned for 2024; however, it was canceled due to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on 24 February 2022, which led to the enforcement of martial law in the country, prohibiting the conduct of elections.

The rules governing the presidential elections are outlined in the Constitution of Ukraine and the Electoral Code of Ukraine. The elections are held on the last Sunday of March in the final year of the incumbent President's term.

In cases where a president's term ends prematurely, a new election must be conducted within ninety days of the vacancy.

To be eligible for the presidency, a candidate must be a citizen of Ukraine, at least 35 years old on election day, possess the right to vote, be proficient in the Ukrainian language, and have resided in Ukraine for the ten years preceding the election.

A candidate may be nominated by a political party or may choose to self-nominate. Importantly, no individual can serve as President for more than two consecutive terms.

Candidates may commence their election campaigns the day after their registration by the Central Election Commission, with campaigning concluding at midnight on the Friday before the election.

Presidential elections are conducted via direct popular vote in a two-round majoritarian system. If no candidate achieves a simple majority in the first round, the top two candidates proceed to a run-off. The run-off is scheduled for the third Sunday following the first round.

Voter turnout has varied across elections, with the highest recorded turnout being 84 percent during the inaugural election in December 1991. Voters must be Ukrainian citizens and at least 18 years old on election day, with no minimum turnout requirement established.