You're reading: New generation votes in Ukraine

Dima Krasnoukhov, a 20-year-old first-time voter, does not believe his vote will make much difference – but he went to the polling station anyway on Oct. 28.

“I want change in my country and [the way to] get it is by casting my ballot,” Krasnoukhov said, as he walked toward his local polling station in the Dniprovski district in Kyiv. 

If he was excited to be part of a democracy, he hid it quite well. Since he had never been interested in politics and he did not pay much attention to the different candidates during the election campaign, he was still unsure who he would vote for on Election Day. 

But he was certain that he would not vote for the pro-presidential ruling Party of Regions or any of its candidates. 

“I would like to turn in a blank ballot as a protest against the fact that none of the candidates seems to be very convincing on bringing change to the country. But since it is not possible to turn in blank ballots, I will find a candidate when I am in the ballot box,” Krasnoukhov said. 

According to the head of the voting station, Krasnoukhov is one of 2,354 eligible voters in the district, of which 75 percent were expected to show up and vote today.  

The polling station was located in an old building reminiscent of Soviet times. Krasnoukhov confidently entered and placed himself in the line for a ballot. 

The room was painted in a peculiar green color and lit with fluorescent lamps. About 15 women sat at one side of the room handing out voting tickets, while observers sat quietly in the back, keeping a close watch. 

Voters, speaking in whispers, moved slowly around three transparent ballot boxes in the middle of the room. Not long after passing the curtain to put his mark on the ballot, Krasnoukhov returned with a smile on his face. “I voted for the youngest candidate on the list, a woman born in 1984,” he said with a smile. 

“Change is going to come from the young generation, because I really do not see what a 65-year-old guy is going to bring in that direction,” he added before leaving the green election room and heading back to his everyday life. 

Kyiv Post staff writer Jesper Larsen can be reached at [email protected]