From our Kyiv correspondent Christopher Miller. He’s on Twitter at @ChristopherJM
The weather is great for today's election but that may not translate to a high voter turnout. Experts predict turnout will be lower than the presidential elections in March and April when 62 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. The 2014 parliamentary elections saw 52 percent voter turnout. Low voter turnout may bode poorly for parties filled with new faces, such as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Servant of the People and singer Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's Voice. But it could help establishment parties like those of former President Petro Poroshenko (European Solidarity) and ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (Fatherland), who have smaller but arguably more devout followings.
Just two hours into voting, Ukraine's National Police and Central Election Commission have reported several violations. Eight polling stations did not open on time due to technicalities, such as disputes between local officials, or fraud in one case.
In Bakhmut, a city that butts up against the front line of the war in eastern Ukraine, a polling station was closed after its official observers were found to have already fixed the results sheet in the local district race. Police said they tried to hide the fix by dumping ink over the documents.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg is inside a Ukrainian polling station:
Election explainer from the Kyiv Post:
Reupping a little bit of background reading from RFE/RL staffers on the elections today -- and Zelenskiy’s future challenges.
Parliamentary elections on July 21 are likely to put plenty of new faces in Ukraine’s legislature. But some politicians say they’re bracing for “revanche,” warning that the return of figures from the Viktor Yanukovych era would risk a tilt toward Russia and a rollback of progress made after the Euromaidan protests that cast them out.
Zelenskiy Won Ukrainian Voters Over With Ease; Winning Trump Over May Be Tougher
At some point in the weeks after parliamentary elections that could bolster his authority at home, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will take a big trip abroad: to Washington. Zelenskiy shares a common background with Donald Trump -- a TV personality and political novice who tapped public discontent to win the highest office in the land -- but can he win over a U.S. president who has made his desire for warmer relations with Russia clear?
Wait, That's My Name: 'Clone Candidates' Fill Ukrainian Parliamentary Election Ballots
People who say imitation is the greatest form of flattery have probably never run for election in Ukraine. Candidates in the July 21 parliamentary vote are facing stiff competition not only from legitimate opponents, but from "clone candidates" with identical or nearly identical names.
Yes, polls are open across Ukraine.
Good morning! Welcome to our special Ukraine election live blog. We’ll be following all the news and reaction to the vote and pulling together the best of our coverage from our correspondents on the ground.
Polls are open now across Ukraine and close at 2000 Kyiv time. Official results are expected by Monday morning (Kyiv time), although we should have some idea of the outcome from exit polls before then.
This ends our live blogging for July 20. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.