THE PRACTICE OF USING OF THE ELECTRONIC PETITION AS A FORM OF DIRECT PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article considers the practice of using of the institute of electronic petition as a form of direct participation of the local community in the local self-government in Ukraine. The author highlights such positive sides of the institute of electronic petition as: the opportunity to draw the local authorities’ attention to certain local issues that need to be solved; flexibility of topics of issues on which an electronic petition can be created; opportunity to publicly learn the official position of local authorities on a particular issue of local importance; the opportunity to receive an answer to the electronic petition as an appeal of citizens if petition did not receive the required number of votes. Among the negative aspects of the e-petition, the author mentions relatively small chances for a real solution of the local issue through the e-petition; the need for appropriate technical support. The author also points out the peculiarities of the functioning of the institute of electronic petitions in different local communities, caused by regulation at the local level. It includes the conditions for the text of the petition, the timing of collecting signatures and quantity of required signatures. The author points out the lack of open detailed statistics of submitted electronic petitions in most local communities. As a result, the author provides suggestions for overcoming the negatives of the practice of functioning of the institution of electronic petition as a form of direct participation of the local community in the local self-government in Ukraine.