The referendum law allowing people to instigate a popular vote on issues such as the EU’s treaty with Ukraine is confusing and needs amending, according to the electoral council.

In particular, the requirement that at least 30% of the electorate turn out to vote had an ‘undesirable’ impact on the Ukraine referendum because it encouraged people to stay at home, the council says.

A referendum only has legal status if at least 30% of voters cast their ballot. This led thousands of people not to vote in the Ukraine referendum in the hope it would be invalid. In the end, turnout was 32%.

The council also criticised the wide variation in the number of polling stations in different voting districts and the ‘complicated’ ballot paper.