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Promo-LEX Association presented the results for the monitoring of the polling stations opening for the second round of the 2015 General Local Elections. The presented data were collected from 186 observers, who are monitoring the electoral process throughout the whole country, in 93 mobile teams, as well as from the 320 observers present in all polling stations from Chisinau and Comrat municipalities.

We remind that today repeated elections are organized in 3 PS (PSs 45-46, Ulmu v., r. Ialoveni d., and PS 4, Topala v., Cimislia d.).

According to Promo-LEX observers, the second round of the General Local Elections started in an ordinary regime, though some violations were reported as of 10.00 am. A summary thereof is presented below.

Polling Stations Opening

Promo-LEX observers found that PS 7 from Taraclia t., opened by 10 minutes earlier, while PS 4 from Glodeni t. and PS 4 from Basarabeasca t. opened 5 minutes later.

In Chisinau mun. 29 (9.4%) of the 308 polling stations were opened earlier or later than 7:00 am (Figure 1)

Figure 1. Time of Polling Stations Opening, Chisinau mun.

Other problems related to the opening of PS: late counting of ballot papers (PS 150, Chisinau mun.), operation of the State Register of Voters (SRV) (PS 190, Chisinau mun.), delayed preparation of the protocol (PS 153, Chisinau mun.; PS 4, Glodeni t.), problems with Internet connection (PS 153, Chisinau mun.), EOPS member missing (PS 153, Chisinau mun.), recounting of ballot papers at the insistence of an observer (PS 4, Basarabeasca t.).

Enabling PS Infrastructure on the Election Day

Promo-LEX observers found a number of violations as regards the infrastructure of polling stations. Thus:

• In some polling stations the safe box is located in another building (PS 140, Chisinau mun.; PS 7, Tvardita t., Taraclia d.; PS 22, Hartopul Mic v., Criuleni d.; SV 5, Rezina t.);
• the voting booths are located very close to each other, which does not guarantee secret voting (PS 120, Chisinau mun.; PS 44, Floresti d.; PSs 4 and 5 Causeni);
• electioneering in the vicinity of polling stations (PSs 4 and 5, Causeni t.);
• Voting in the second round of the elections with „Local Elections 14.06.2015” seal (in PS 55, Rosu v., Cahul d., the wrong seal was applied to at least 30 voters);

In Chisinau mun. some violations related to the opening of polling stations were also reported:

• the ballot box was not sealed appropriately (PS 218);
• presence of electoral posters in the vicinity of 30 polling stations (9.7%) (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Presence of Electoral Posters in the Vicinity of Polling Station (within the area of 100 m from the PS).

Enabling the Voting Infrastructure for Persons with Disabilities

Promo-LEX observers found that 144 of the 308 polling stations from Chisinau mun. (about 47%) cannot be accessed by persons with mobility impairments. At the same time, 68 polling stations (about 22%) are not provided with appropriate equipment for persons with mobility impairments, and 165 stations (about 53%) – for persons with vision impairments.

Violation of the Secret Voting Principle

In non-compliance with the legal requirements, in PS 92, Chisinau mun., at the request of an elderly person, the deputy chairman of EOPS helped him to apply the seal next to an election contestant. In PS 4, Alcedar v., Soldanesti, some voters deposited the ballot paper in the ballot box in such a manner as to show purposefully who they voted for.

Voting on the Basis of Inappropriate Documents

Promo-LEX observers found three cases when people voted on the basis ID cards without the loose leaf (PS 6, Straseni t.). The EOPS chairman argued that this was possible, because these people had been already included in the list of voters.

Sales of Alcoholic Beverages in Close Proximity to PS

Promo-LEX observers found two cases when alcoholic beverages were sold in the close proximity to polling stations:

• PSs 1 and 3, Soroca t., within less than 50 meters from the PS there is a store that sells alcoholic beverages;
• PS 4, Soldanesti d., at a distance of about 40 meters from the PS, a store is selling spirits. The PS chairman spoke to the store owner, asking not to sell alcoholic beverages, but she refused to follow the request.

Today, 28 June, 3:00 pm, Promo-LEX Association will organize the next press briefing to present information regarding the electoral process.

Promo-LEX Observation Mission declares itself to be neutral and equidistant towards the election candidates; it is not an investigation body and does not assume the express obligation to support the observers’ findings by evidence.

The General Local Elections of 14 (28) June 2015 are monitored by Promo-LEX Association under its Monitoring Democratic Processes Program. The Observation Mission is part of the activities carried out by the civil society under the aegis of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.

The Observation Mission of the General Local Elections of 14 (28) June 2015 is supported financially U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Council of Europe and benefits of technical assistance provided by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).

The opinions presented in the press release belong to authors and do not necessarily reflect the donors’ view.

For additional information please contact: Simion Ciochina, Communication Officer of the Observation Mission for the 2015 General Local Elections, Tel: 0 (22) 49 26 84, GSM: (+373) 69 11 96 94, E-mail: [email protected]