Promo-LEX: Irregularities continue in elections

Promo-LEX observers continue to report deviations from correct electoral procedures. In the period 11:00 – 17:00, observers have noted a series of cases in which electoral candidates have used legal means to challenge the actions of the candidates running against them. At least 9 such cases of appeals being made by candidates against rival candidates have been reported.

There have been several isolated cases of Polling-station Electoral Bureaus (PEBs) having been supplied with a surplus of ballot papers (compared to the number of voters registered on their basic electoral rolls). Namely at VS (voting station) 90, VS 91 and VS 71 in Chişinău; at VS 1 in Briceni; at VS 2 in Hîncești; and at VS 18 in Soroca).

Promo-LEX observers continue to report cases of campaign material being displayed illegally in the vicinity of voting stations. Thirteen new cases of this have been reported: at VS 10, VS 44 and VS 56 in Orhei; at VS 24, VS 25 and VS 12 in Cimişlia; at VS 20 and VS 21 in Floreşti; at VS 6, VS 7 and VS 46 in Sângerei; at VS 44 in Soroca; at VS 9 in Străşeni. In total, at the time of the writing, the displaying of electoral campaign material within 50m of a voting station has been noted at 41 out of the 300 voting stations in the municipality of Chişinău (i.e. 14%).

New cases of continued electoral campaigning have been reported: At VS 7 in Abaclia, Basarabeasca rayon; at VS 3 in Edineţ; at VS 9 in Căplani, Ştefan Vodă rayon; at VS 43 in Văseni, Teleneşti rayon; at VS 23 in Hruşova, Criuleni rayon; at VS 17 in Belicenii Vechi, Sîngerei rayon. A more serious case was reported at VS 3 in Cahul, where observers witnessed how one PEB member pointed out to one voter at least three times which candidate to choose.

The number of requests to vote at domicile that have been made is a cause for concern. At voting station number 42 in Şuri, Drochia rayon, for example, 90 such requests were received.

A new attempt at multiple voting was reported at voting station 26 in Glinjeni, Făleşti rayon.

Alcoholic drinks continue to be sold in the vicinity of several voting stations: at VS 15, VS 16, VS 25 and VS 32 in Ialoveni; at VS 15 and VS 52, Orhei; at VS 14 and VS 8 in Dubăsari; at VS 39 in Rezina; at VS 19 and VS 47 in Căuşeni; at VS 12 and VS 40 in Cimişlia; at VS 21 and VS 23 in Floreşti; at VS 17 in Teleneşti; at VS 46 in Sîngerei; at VS 53 in Rîşcani; at VS 26, VS 36, VS 45, and VS 12 in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia; at VS 12 in Călăraşi; at VS 175 in Chişinău.

Observers reported new cases of transport being organised to take voters to the voting stations (at VS 16/3 in Edineţ; at VS 31/10 in Cotiujeni, Edineţ rayon; at VS 6 in Leova rayon).

Cases of more than voter entering a voting booth at one time were reported at VS 14 in Ustia, Dubăsari rayon; at VS 19 in Batîr, Cimişlia rayon; at VSs in Sîngereii Noi and Belicenii Vechi, Sîngerei rayon; and at a VS in Varatic, Rîşcani rayon.

At least 5 cases of people voting using the wrong identity document, or without any identity document, were recorded at a VS in Drochia, Drochia rayon; at VS 45 in Congaz, Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia; at VS 12 in Bravicea, Călăraşi rayon; at VS 253 in Durleşti, Chişinău; at VS 64 in Taxobeni, Făleşti rayon. Some voters tried to vote using copies of their F9 forms, without either the accompanying sheet or their passport.

Two new cases were reported of observers being denied access to voting stations – namely at VS 23 in Hruşova, Criuleni rayon; and at VS 16 in Botanica, Chişinău.

An extended version of this press release is available through the link below.

For further details contact Carolina Bondarciuc, Promo-LEX press officer: Tel: (22) 450024, GSM: 069637849, e-mail: pr@promolex.md