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May 20, 2018

Time: 14:30

Promo-LEX Observation Mission of the new local elections presented its findings for 09.15 – 12. 45-time interval. See the following findings below:

Restricted access or obstruction of a free observation process in the polling station – 1 case.
PS 1/103, Chisinau. Promo-LEX Observer was threatened by the observer of an election contender, being asked to introduce himself. He refused to present the accreditation badge, mentioning “my people will come in a moment and you will have troubles.”

Presence of advertising materials, posters, electoral boards within the area of the polling station (100 meters of the PS) – 1 case.
PS 2/58, Balti. 12 advertising materials of A4 format with the image of a candidate were identified within 100 meters of the PS.

Ballot boxes have not been sealed as provided by the legal procedures – 3 cases of ballot boxes with broken/ damaged or missing seals.
PS 1/213, Chisinau. There are 2 stationary ballot boxes in the PS that have been sealed with only 3 seals each.
PS 1/270, Chisinau. There are 2 ballot boxes, including a stationary one, which has been sealed with only 2 seals (2 seals are missing). The PS was offered sufficient seals (5), but only 3 have been used.
PS 1/271, Chisinau. The stationary ballot box is sealed with 3 seals. The president said he received only 5 seals. Therefore, 2 were used for the mobile ballot box.

Unjustified group voting (2 and more persons present in the voting booth) – 3 cases.
PS 1/39 Chisinau. Two voters (husband and wife) entered the voting booth together. A remark was made, but they did not react. The ballots were not canceled.
PS 2/15, Balti. While voting, two voters, spoke to each other. One of them looked into the voting booth of the other. Nobody made any remarks. The voters voted and left.
PS 1/281, Chisinau. Having taken the ballots from the EBPS member, two voters (husband and wife) went to the same voting booth and applied the stamp “VOTED”. The President of the EBPS did not notice this moment, so no action was taken.

Unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the PS or within 50 meters of the PS – 7 cases.
PS 16/43 Jora de Mijloc. The representative of an election contender, having some lists on her, was staying within 50 meters of the PS.  Some voters stopped and talked to her before entering the polling station. The police were summoned, the woman left, but still, she was near the polling station, but at a greater distance.
PS 1/306 Chisinau. An unknown person entered the PS, approached the PSRM Party observer and communicated something to him. The President noticed this and asked him to leave the premises. The person complied with the requirements and left the PS.
PS 1/28, Chisinau. At 09.14 a.m., a person came to the door of the PS and asked why no one went to the people, who needed help and then left.
PS 2/2, Balti. At 10:44a.m., a policeman was speaking with a woman in the polling station. When the observer approached the policeman, he left. The observer asked the woman who spoke to the policeman why he was there. The woman said the policeman came to find out how many people had voted so far.
PS 2/12, Balti. For more than 3 hours, a man stood within 50 m of the PS, strolling, talking on the phone and going behind the PS. The observer did not see him talking to the voters, but he could talk to them when being behind the PS.
PS 16/43 Jora de Mijloc.  Within 20 meters, there was a person, taking pictures of the voters, who entered the polling station. This person is one of the two who, in the morning, introduced themselves as observers of an election contender and said they would receive their accreditation cards later.  Now,  this person claims to be a press representative.
PS 16/42 Jora de Mijloc. Within 30 meters of the PS, two representatives of a contender are registering the voters that leave the polling station.

Rumors, attempts, or even real situations of offering material or monetary rewards to voters within / or near the polling station to determine voters’ choice – 1 case.
PS 2/12, Balti. A voter entered the PS, picked up a ballot and attempted to leave the PS. The secretary did not let him out and the voter put the blank ballot into the ballot box. The observer watched the voter out and heard him talking on the phone, saying he was not allowed to leave the PS and asked if he would be paid even if he did not vote.

Electioneering  or bad PR within / or near the polling station to determine voters’ choice – 6 cases.
PS 1/103, Chisinau. At 09:15 a.m., in the immediate vicinity of PS, a person was spreading leaflets. An EBPS member noticed this, took the leaflets and threw them away. The Promo-LEX observer  failed to see the candidate on the leaflets, but they were red.
PS 1/131 Chisinau. A member of the EBPS approached a voter in the voting booth, showing him where to apply the “Voted” stamp, saying, “Here in the circle.”
PS 1/47 Chisinau. A voter was campaigning in favor of a candidate in the PS. The president of the PS intervened and the voter left the PS.
PS 1/47 Chisinau. A voter did not know who to vote for and asked a PS member. After the involvement of the PS president, the voter was redirected to the voting booth and voted individually.
PS 1/27, Chisinau. At 09.45 a.m., an observer representing a contender, was discussing with a man outside the PS(in the vicinity of the PS). Then the man entered the PS and voted. The contender’s observer told an EBPS member “eto nas celovek” (it’s our man). As soon as he left the voting booth, the observer asked the man if he had fulfilled his obligations and asked for his telephone number.
PS 1/4, Chisinau. A representative with the right to consultative vote of a party that is not an election contender in Chisinau, with an accreditation card issued on May 20, 2018, was standing holding a bag with the party emblem right in the PS. He was asked to hide the bag; the man put it behind his back, but anyway it was visible.

Organized transportation of voters (buses, minibuses, or other transport units that would normally not be in the vicinity of the PS) – 1 case.
PS 16/40, Jora de Mijloc. A minibus with a contender’s emblem was parked within 100m of PS.

Acts of violence or intimidation of voters, or of other persons – 1 case
PS 1/82 Chisinau.
At 12:10 p.m. a voter insulted the operators because they asked for his identity card. The voter requested to write an appeal. The president gave him a stamped notebook, in which the voter wrote that he could not exercise his/her right to vote.

Deficiencies in the functioning of SIAS Elections (State Automated Information System) (suspension of operation, situations when SIAS Elections indicates that the voters voted, while they claim they did not) – 4 cases.
PS 1/306 Chisinau. At 9:47a.m., the SIAS Elections system was not accessible for a period of 10-15 minutes, the reason being a technical failure of the network. The technician’s intervention was required. No voters were present at that time.
PS 1/159, Chisinau. At 10.29 a.m., SIAS Elections indicated that a voter, who wanted to vote, had already voted. That person claimed he did not vote but he was not allowed to do it again.
PS 1/263 Chisinau. For an hour and a half, the SIAS Elections system did not work, the reason being a technical deficiency (lack of internet connection). Technicians intervened and the problem was fixed. Throughout this period, voters’ lists were made and people voted, after which they were introduced into the system starting with 9.15 a.m.
PS 1/054 Chisinau. At 11.53 a.m. the SIAS Elections system stopped working for about 12 minutes, they were not voters during that time.

Faults in the voters’ lists (address discrepancies, deceased voters, signatures made instead of other people) – 53 cases.
PS 1/256 Chisinau. A voter identified in the voters’ list that there are 15 people more registered at his address. The voter submitted an appeal.
PS 1/127 Chisinau. A voter found that the voters’ list indicated the old street name of his home address, even if it has been changed. The person was indignant, but voted.
PS 1/145 Chisinau. A voter is not on the basic voters’ lists, but his name is present in SIAS Elections system. The PS president refused to introduce his name in the supplementary lists and sent the voter to the passport office for a confirmation.
PS 1/120 Chisinau. A woman was not on the list. The president contacted the CEC to verify the case and she was subsequently included in the supplementary list.
PS 1/131 Chisinau. One person noticed that her son, who went abroad 4 years ago, is included in the voters’ list. The woman claims that she has personally gone several times to the passport office to solve this problem because her son has no residence in the Republic of Moldova, however, he is still on the lists. She shattered peace and quiet of the polling station and specified that she will return today to check if there is a signature next to her son’s name.
PS 1/64 Chisinau. A voter found that one more person is registered at the address where he is domiciled. The president of the PS  said he would report this case and asked for the voter’s phone number.
PS 1/46 Chisinau. A person has been on supplementary lists for 5 years and has not been included in the basic lists so far, hence he disturbed the peace in the PS.
PS 2/8 Balti. A voter was not included in the voters’ lists because he recently obtained his dwelling. Having contacted the Public Services Agency, the president of the PS allowed him to vote, including him in the supplementary list.
PS 1/123 Chisinau. A voter approached the observers and said that 13 years ago, she discovered that two more people are registered at her domicile and appear on the voters’ list, one of them had already voted. The woman mentioned that no one besides her lives there and she wanted to write an application with respect to this fact, but she has sight problems. The PSRM observer offered to help her, writing the application, the woman signed it and left, the application remained with the PSRM observer.
PS 1/152 Chisinau. Two people were not on the voters’ lists, having consulted the District Administration, the president of the EBPS allowed them to vote, included them in the supplementary voters’ lists.
PS 1/80 Chisinau. A voter reported to the PS members that a person is on the voter’s lists at the same address where he lives, even if he had previously been at the Registry Office  to fix this error.
PS 1/2 Chisinau. A voter made his identity card 5 days before the elections, but he was not included in the voters’ lists. He asked to vote on the supplementary lists. The president of the PS called the District Administration and they told him that the voter did not have the right to vote.
PS 1/302 Chisinau. A voter was not included in the basic voters’ lists, but according to the data from his identity card, he is registered in this PS. The president allowed him to vote, including him in the supplementary voters’ lists.
PS 1/302 Chisinau. A voter was not on the voters’ lists, but according to the data from her identity card, she is due to vote in this PS. Consequently, she voted, being included in the supplementary voters’ lists.
PS 1/152 Chisinau. A voter is domiciled in the area of ​​this polling station, but is on the voters’ lists. Having consulted the services of the District Administration,  the president of the EBPS allowed him to vote, including him in the supplementary voters’ lists.
PS 2/43 Balti. Several people (at least 15) could not vote in this PS, even if they live nearby. They were referred to another PS to vote. However, some of them  had voted in this PS in the previous elections.
PS 1/152 Chisinau. The voter claims that an unknown person is registered at his / her domicile address. The person wrote an application to the president of the EBPS, requesting to make a change in the voters’ list.
PS 1/104 Chisinau. At 08.45 a.m., a voter was not found in SIAS Elections system, nor on the basic voters’ lists, even if the woman stated that she permanently voted in this polling station. EBPS members noted that several houses were omitted when the voters’ lists were drawn up and many people, domiciled in he vicinity, were not included in the lists. Finally, the person voted, being included in the supplementary voters’ list.
PS 2/4 Balti. At 08.05 a.m., a voter, domiciled within the respective PS, found that he was not included in the basic voters’ list of this PS. Finally, he voted, being included in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/252 Chisinau. At 9.10 a.m., a voter noted that a person that diseased 19 years ago was included in the basic voters’ lists. The president of the PS advised the woman to appeal to the CEC for more information.
PS 1/85 Chisinau. At 09.33 a.m., a voter noted that there are some unknown people, registered at his domicile on the voters’ lists.  Their exact number is unknown.
PS 1/246 Chisinau. At 09.38 a.m., a voter identified on the voters’ list an unknown person, registered at his home address.  The voter drew a line in front of that person’s name.
PS 1/79 Chisinau. At 09.45 a.m., a voter came to vote at the PS near his home, but he was not on the basic voters’ lists. He voted on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/302 Chisinau. At 09.51 a. m., two voters found that they were not included in the basic voters’ lists, although identified by the SIAS Elections system. As a result, they were included in supplementary voters’ lists and were able to vote.
PS 1/41 Chisinau. At 09.47 a.m., a voter found that he was not included in the basic voters’ lists, although he was domiciled within the PS. The voter was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/87 Chisinau. At 09.40 a.m., a voter found that his neighbor, who diseased 10 years ago, was on the basic voters’ lists. The president of the PS said he cannot exclude that person from the lists, because there was no document, confirming what the voter said.
PS 1/232 Chisinau. At 10.00 a.m., a voter came to the PS to vote, having an expired identity card, he had a certificate from the passport office that allow him to vote. The president of the EBPS called the CEC to check whether it was possible for him to vote on the basis of such a certificate. However, he was not allowed to vote.
PS 2/5 Balti. At 10.23 a.m., EBPS members found that the voter’s ID series did not match the one on the voters’ list. The president of the PS called someone, corrected the error and the voter voted.
PS 1/206 Chisinau. At 10.00 a.m., a voter was not found either on the basic voters’ lists, or in SIAS Elections system, although his home address corresponds to the respective PS. Given that the identity card indicated the domicile valid for that PS (recently established), the person was included in the supplementary voters’ lists and voted.
PS 1/299 Chisinau. At 10. 34 a.m., a voter identified a deceased person on the basic voters’ lists. The President noted this information.
PS 2/21 Balti. At 10.00 a.m., a voter was not found on the basic voters’ lists. Once it was established that he has the right to vote at this PS, the voter was included in the supplementary list.
PS 1/216, Chisinau. A voter identified in the voters’ lists, a foreign person, registered at his address (he never lived there). The voter was indignant  and did not want to vote.
PS 1/213, Chisinau. A voter found a deceased person on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/110, Chisinau. A voter was red-flagged in SIAS Elections system, therefore, he was not allowed to vote. The person went to the CEC, where he was told that he was allowed to vote, provided he leaves a copy of his identity card in the polling station (the address of the residence visa does not refer to that PS). Finally, the voter voted on the supplementary lists.
PS 2/43, Balti. Two citizens, husband and wife, although living together, were referred to different polling stations.
PS 1/233, Chisinau. A voter found on the basic voters’ lists that an unknown person was registered at his address.
PS 1/89, Chisinau. Some people (3-4) were registered in SIAS Elections system, but they were not on the basic voters’ lists. They voted on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/39, Chisinau. A voter identified on the basic voters’ lists that a foreign person registered at his / her home address. The President of the PS did not undertake any action.
PS 2/27 Balti. A woman came with two identity cards and it was found that the series of the ID she presented did not match the one on the list. The woman got scared and fled. The president tried to catch her up, but in vain.
PS 1/266 Chisinau. A voter was registered in the SIAS Elections system with a different address than the one provided in the ID card. He approached the EBPS president, who checked the information and allowed him to vote, including him in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/10 Chisinau. Two persons having their domicile / residence within the polling station were not included in the basic lists, but their names were in the  SIAS Elections system and respectively, they voted on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/85 Chisinau. 2 voters claim that 2 unknown persons are registered at their addresses on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/101 Chisinau. A voter who has recently bought a dwelling, where only two people are registered, noticed that another 3 unknown people are listed in the voters’ lists  at that address.
PS 1/104 Chisinau. A voter noted that his address is not included in the basic voters’ lists, despite the fact that he always voted at that PS. The voter was included in the supplementary voters’ lists.
PS 1/274 Chisinau. A voter changed her dwelling 5 days ago. The person went to the PS, according to the new address. At that PS, however, she was not either in the SIAS Elections system or in the voters’ lists. Later, she went and voted at the PS, where she had previously been registered, having to write a statement on her own responsibility. The EBPS also drew up minutes in this respect.
PS 1/80 Chisinau. A voter observed the name of a deceased person on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/27 Chisinau. A voter noted that his mother, who diseased 1 years ago, was included in the voters’ lists. He did not present a death certificate, but he has been to the Registry Office several times with this document. He wrote a complaint in this respect.
PS 1 / 30 Chisinau. A voter noticed that her deceased husband was included in the basic lists. She did not present any death certificate, so her husband remained on the list.
PS 1/149, Chisinau. A voter noticed that an unknown person is living at his address. The observer took a picture of the list.
PS 1/80, Chisinau. A voter observed the names of a deceased person on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/86, Chisinau. A voter noticed that some unknown people are registered at his address.
PS 1/232, Chisinau. A voter found that a foreign person, registered at his address, is on the basic voters’ lists. He claims that the same thing happened in the Referendum. He indicates that although he had requested to exclude the person from the list before the elections, he had been told that the person was excluded.
PS 2/24 Balti. An elderly voter was not on the lists, although she had previously voted in the same PS. She says she has not changed her address. The PS members referred her to the passport office.

Taking photos of ballots – 13 cases.
PS 1/48 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot, being reprimanded by the president of the PS, he deleted the photo.
PS 1/139 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot, none of the EBPS members reacted to it.
PS 1/95 Chisinau. In two voting booths, two voters simultaneously photographed the ballots. When the PS president told them to delete the photos, the voters revolted, saying that this not banned anywhere. The voters did not delete the photos. Appeals have not been filed.
PS 1/203 Chisinau.  At 09.39 a.m., a voter took photos of the ballot. At the insistence of the EBPS members, the person deleted the pictures.
PS 1/230 Chisinau. At 10.21 a.m., a voter who was in the voting booth, photographed his ballot, having applied the “Voted” stamp. The president noted this case and asked him to delete the picture. The voter complied with the requirements of the president.
PS 2/57 Balti. At 10.05 a.m., the voter voted, then photographed the ballot. The president made a remark and the voter deleted the picture.
PS 1/248 Chisinau. At 10.44 a. m., a voter, who was in the voting booth, photographed the ballot. Nobody intervened.
PS 1/236 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot. Several EBPS members noticed this situation, but no one said anything.  The voter left without deleting the picture.
PS 1/97 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot. After the PS members asked him to delete the picture, the voter rebelled and did not allow the photo to be deleted, arguing that the law does not prohibit taking pictures. He voted and the picture was not deleted.
PS 1/64, Chisinau. A voter attempted to photograph the ballot, but he was prevented from doing that.
PS 1/151, Chisinau. A woman photographed the ballot. The president of the EBPS made a remark, but it is not known whether the picture was deleted or not.
PS 1/151 Chisinau. A voter took picture of the ballot, one of the observers asked to delete the picture, the picture was deleted.
PS 1/231 Chisinau. A voter, being in the voting booth, photographed the ballot. The EBPS president noticed this and asked him to delete the picture.

Others
PS 1/103, Chisinau. An observer, representing one of the contenders, frequently approached two of the EBPS members, who offered him a list with the names and addresses of those who possibly have voted. That observer periodically went out and sent this information through his phone.
PS 2/14 Balti. An elderly voter (born in 1935) forgot the ID card at home, the members of the EBPS decided to allow him to vote without an ID card.
PS 1/47, Chisinau. Inside the PS, an observer representing one of the contenders, helped a blind voter to exercise his right. The observer told the voter who to vote for. No complaints were filed, although other EBPS members noticed this.
PS 1/297, Chisinau. At 09.15a.m., three observers, representing some election contenders, voted in the PS where they monitored the elections, without being on the lists. The PS president said he called the CEC and was told that those observers had the right to exercise their voting rights there. They were included and signed in the supplementary voters’ lists.
PS 1/293, Chisinau. At 09.42 a.m., there was a conflict among the EBPS members in the PS. One of the members wanted to keep the voters’ lists, but the secretary explained that she was personally responsible for the lists.
PS 1/205, Chisinau. A sick person filed a request for voting at the place of residence, but this request was sent to another PS not to the PS no. 205, the president of the EBPS contacted the CEC and finally allowed the person to vote there.

The Promo-LEX observation mission of the new local elections of May 20, 2018 monitors the elections through 8 long-term observers (LTOs) in the seven constituencies established. On the day of the elections, Promo-LEX delegated a short-term observer to each polling station in the constituency. Observers involved in the monitoring process signed the Promo-LEX Independent National Observatory’s Code of Conduct, committing themselves to act promptly, 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 supported financially by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions expressed in the Promo-LEX public reports belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.

For more details, please contact:
Axenia Chirilov, Communications Officer of Promo-LEX Association;
GSM 060168314, e-mail: [email protected]