Darth Vader Runs for Prime Minister of Ukraine, Isn't Allowed to Vote

Star Wars villain is turned away from Kiev polling station for refusing to remove his mask, insists this doesn't mean "that my empire will not win"

Despite Darth Vader's best efforts, it doesn't look like Ukraine will be crossing over to the Dark Side.

The Sith Lord, an electrician who changed his name to Darth Alekseyevich Vader, ran for prime minister of Ukraine, reportedly vowing to take on Russian president Vladimir Putin. But, per MSNBC, the Star Wars villain was turned away from a Kiev polling station Sunday for refusing to remove his mask.

"Here is my face on the passport," he said. "Where does the law say that I have to take off my mask?"

The dark lord was unconvincing, though, and was not allowed to cast his vote. "It's sad," he said, adding optimistically, "The fact that I did not vote doesn't mean that my empire will not win."

Per the Huffington Post, this disappointed Darth Vader was one of six Dark Lords running for seats in Parliament, along with Chewbacca, Princess Amidala and Yoda.

It it doesn't seem that the force is with any characters from the Star Wars realm. Per the BBC, pro-Western candidates President Petro Poroshenko and Arseniy Yatseniuk were "neck-in-neck" in the polls Monday.

Official election results are expected to be released later in the day.

(E! and NBC are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)