Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a bill of amendments to the law on the election of deputies to the Crimean Supreme Council, local councils and the election of the heads of villages, towns, and cities, which were approved by parliament at an extraordinary session on August 30.

The amendments remove restrictions on the participation in the elections of the local branches of political parties that were formed later than 365 days before the election date. All of the local branches of political parties received the opportunity to nominate their candidates for the elections, which are scheduled for October 31, 2010.

The new wording of the law changed the principle of forming territorial electoral commissions. In particular, their composition was expanded to eighteen people. Thus, the local organizations of political parties not represented in parliament also received the right to submit their nominations for the formation of territorial electoral commissions.

Under the document, the staff of territorial electoral commissions will be composed of 15 representatives from the local branches of parliamentary political parties, as well as three individuals from the nominations submitted by the local branches of non-parliamentary political parties, who will be selected by lot.