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Chișinău, 20 November 2017 – Promo-LEX published the parallel vote counting preliminary data from the Referendum on the dismissal of General Chișinău Mayor.

Comparative analysis of the vote counting preliminary data provided by Promo-LEX and the Central Electoral Commission
The preliminary data of the Referendum for the dismissal of the General Chișinău Mayor were calculated on the basis of the data from the vote counting report by 307 observers and were sent to the central team through electronic communication means (SMS). It should be mentioned that the information from 8 vote counting reports contains errors in the calculation of the verification formulas and the final results will be announced after the central team receives the relevant original minutes and checks them.

Accuracy of the vote counting reports

When monitoring the Referendum for the dismissal of the General Chișinău Mayor, Promo-LEX also analysed the accuracy of vote counting reports. Subsequently, it analysed the information from the 307 reports that were submitted to Promo-LEX observers by the EOPS chairpersons. Since the preliminary information is sent by electronic communication means, there is a probability of human error (errors of observers or electoral officials). The causes of errors mentioned below will be established and communicated after the original reports are analysed.

Eight reports contain errors in at least one verification formula or missing data. The accuracy was checked by examining the formulae inserted into the reports: c ≤ a + b; c ≥ d; d=f+h; e=c-d; f=d-h; h=g1+g2+g3+g4+…+gn; i=c+j; j=i–c. The statistic results are the following:

The formula c ≥ d implies that the number of voters who were issued ballot papers (established on the basis of the signatures from the lists of voters) must be equal to or greater than the number of ballot papers taken out of the ballot boxes. Two reports out of 307 were found where this formula is not correct, which means that they took out of the ballot boxes more ballot papers than they actually issued.

The formula d=f+h was applied incorrectly in 3 reports. In these cases, it was not proved that the number of ballot papers taken out of the boxes coincides with the total number of invalidated and valid ballot papers. There may be doubts regarding the accuracy of valid vote counting, thus – regarding the results obtained by the candidates.

The formula e=c-d was applied incorrectly in 2 reports. Thus, in 2 polling stations the number of signatures on the lists of voters did not match the number of ballot papers in the ballot boxes.

The formula f=d-h is meant to check the number of invalidated ballots by deducting the valid ones from the total number of ballot papers. This verification formula was applied incorrectly in 3 reports. The conclusions regarding the verification of the formula d=f+h are valid.

The formula i=c+j could not be applied correctly in 6 reports, the same being true for the formula j=i–c. Thus, either the unused and cancelled ballots or the signatures in the lists of voters were not counted correctly. Actually, we found that the words ‘unused and cancelled’ may mislead EOPS members, as they might regard them as two separate categories.

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During 4 October – 20 November 2017, the Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the local referendum on the dismissal of Chișinău General Mayor is monitoring the electoral process in the Chișinău constituency with the help of five long-term observers, one medium-term observer and one regional coordinator. On the election day, Promo-LEX delegated a short-term observer in each polling station of the constituency. The observers involved in the monitoring process signed the Code of Conduct of the Promo-LEX Independent National Observer, assuming the commitment to act efficiently, in good faith and in a non-partisan manner. The activity of all the observers is coordinated by the central team of the Association.

The activity of Promo-LEX OM is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions presented in the public reports of Promo-LEX belong to authors and do not necessarily reflect the donor’s view.

Contacts:
Emil Gaitur, Promo-LEX Communicator – tel.: +37369172642; email: [email protected]

Axenia Chirilov, Promo-LEX Communicator – tel.: +37360168314; email: [email protected]