On May 23, 2018, Promo-LEX Association published Report no. 4 of the Observation Mission (OM) on the new local elections of May 20, 2018. The report provides the findings made on the day of elections. Monitoring of the election process on the day of elections was possible due to the involvement of 375 short-term observers (STOs), delegated to each of the polling station (PS), as well as mobile observing teams, established to react to special situations, which were coordinated by 8 long-term observers (LTOs) and a national coordinator.

Over the day of May 20, 2018, Promo-Lex OM was informed of 236 cases, qualified as incidents. Of these, the largest part falls for deficiencies noted in the basic voters’ lists – at least 96 cases (40.68%). Among the deficiencies registered, most of them refer to the presence of foreign persons, registered at the addresses of voters, or former owners, registered at the same addresses (37 cases), non-inclusion of voters in the voters’ lists, although based on the data from the ID cards, they belong to the respective PS (33 cases). Other important violations are photographing of ballots (36 cases) and unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the PS or within 50 meters of the PS (19 cases).

In general, the results of the parallel vote counting, carried out by Promo-LEX OM, show results that are close to those of the preliminary data of the Central Election Commission (CEC). Certain differences are due to the existence of minutes with errors, detected with the help of verification formulas.

According to the findings of the Promo-LEX OM, of 375 minutes, 20 were filled in with errors in one or more verification formulas. The errors were detected with the help of verification formulas, established by the CEC to confirm the authenticity of the recordings in the minutes. Distribution of erroneous minutes per constituency: Chisinau (15), Balti (3), Jora de Mijloc, Orhei district and Volovita, Soroca district (1 each).

According to the preliminary results of the Promo-Lex OM, the elections of May 20, 2018 are valid in all the 7 constituencies. Having analyzed the voter turnout, we established that the highest value was recorded in Jora de Mijloc – 43.48%, according to the Promo-LEX data and 52.99%, according to the preliminary data of the CEC. The lowest voter turnout was registered in Balti – 34.95% (final findings of Promo-LEX) and 34.62% (preliminary finding of the CEC).

In 6 out of 7 constituencies, mayors have been elected in the first ballot. Only in Chisinau, the second round of voting will be held. According to the preliminary information, all mayors elected were designated by political parties, as follows: PDM – 4; PN – 1 and PPS – 1.

***
The information provided by Promo-LEX observers was processed by the Central Team, which presented four press releases and organized three press conferences during the election day. The following day, on May 21, 2018, the Mission presented the results of parallel vote counting.

The Promo-LEX Observation Mission of the new elections of May 20, 2018 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]

May 20, 2018

Time: 22:30

 Promo-LEX Observation Mission found the following irregularities in the voting process in the time interval of 18.45 to 21.00:

Restricted access or obstruction of a free observation process in the polling station – 1 case.
PS 2/4, Balti. The observer wanted to shoot a troublesome situation in the voting process, but the president of the PS did not allow this.

Presence of advertising materials, posters, election boards within the area of the polling station (100 meters of the PS) – 2 cases.
PS 2/42 Balti. A candidate ‘s advertising posters were noticed within 100 m of the PS.
PS 2/37 Balti. A candidate ‘s advertising posters were noticed within 100 m of the PS.

Ballot boxes have not been sealed as provided by the legal procedures – 1 case of ballot boxes with broken/ damaged or missing seals.
PS 1/163 Chisinau. It was found that 3 stationary ballot boxes have only one seal each and the mobile box also has only one seal.

Unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the polling station, or within 50 m of the polling station – 5 cases.
PS 16/42 Jora de Mijloc. At a distance of 25 m from the entrance to the PS, a candidate for the mayor’s office of the village was seen discussing with 2-3 people.
PS 1/231 Chisinau. An MP representing the party of a contender, was present in the PS. He spent 5 minutes in the PS. All this time he talked to his party observer. At a certain moment, other observers and president of the EBPS asked him to present a document, allowing him to be in the PS for a longer period, to which he presented his ID card and said that it gives him this right. After some contradictions, the person left the PS.
PS 1/139 Chisinau. An unauthorized person helped EBPS members to gather the materials in the polling station. At the Promo-LEX observer’ intervention, it was said that the person was the driver, who would transport the bags to the Constituency Council (CC).
PS 1/17 Chisinau. An unauthorized person (the guard of the institution in which the PS is opened) assisted in the counting of votes.
PS 1/168 Chisinau. After the closing of the PS, at 21.26 p.m., a non-authorized person, an MP representing the party of an election contender, entered the PS premises. He spent a few minutes there, then left.

Electioneering  or bad PR within / or near the polling station to determine voters’ choice – 2 cases.
PS 1/47 Chisinau. An observer, representing one of the contenders, loudly told a voter for whom to vote, when the voter came to exercise his voting right.
PS 16/43 Jora de Mijloc. A car of LADA model with the registration number OR AA 901, was seen carrying voters to the polling station at least 4 times.

Acts of violence or intimidation of voters or of other people – 4 cases
PS 1/101 Chisinau. A voter tried to vote without the ID card supplementary card. The EBPS president did not allow this, therefore, the person became aggressive and argued. Police intervention was required to force the aggressive person leave the PS.
PS 1/81 Chisinau. Having voted, a drunk voter asked to see the voters’ lists to check if his family members were included in the lists. Being refused by the president, he made a row. The policeman was notified and the voter was forced to leave the PS.
PS 1/285 Chisinau. Having taken the ballot from the EBPS members, a voter sat down on a seat in the PS (instead of going to the voting booth). At the request of an EBPS member to go to the voting booth, he refused and cursed the person, then tore the ballot and left the PS. The EBPS president stated that the ballot was canceled.
PS 2/31, Balti. Observers of a contender, as well as representatives of a public association, verbally attacked the CEC operators, claiming they falsified votes and hid information from observers. Promo-LEX observer claims that there was no evidence of this, and he had access to all the information. The conflict was resolved, but the observers asked the Promo-LEX observer to give them his contact details for any eventuality (he refused to offer such details).

Faults in the voters’ lists (address discrepancies, deceased voters, signatures made instead of other people) – 15 cases.
PS 1/54 Chisinau. A voter was not identified in the SIAS Elections system, nor in the basic voters’ lists. As a result, he voted on supplementary lists.
PS 1/168 Chisinau. A voter identified two foreign persons registered at his address.
SV 1/128 Chisinau. A voter identified 5 foreign persons registered at his address. The woman says that several years ago, she went to the passport office to clarify this situation, but in the elections, these people appear on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/302 Chisinau. A voter was not found in the basic voters’ lists. Given that the data of his ID certified compliance with that PS, the voter was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/45 Chisinau. A voter identified a deceased person in the basic voters’ lists (he also presented a copy of the death certificate).
PS 2/48 Balti. A voter was not found in the basic voters’ lists. Having presented evidence from the ID, the person was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 2/4 Balti. A voter was not on the basic voters’ lists and was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/152 Chisinau. A voter identified a foreign person registered at his address.
PS 1/267 Chisinau. A voter identified a foreign person registered at his address.
PS 1/70 Chisinau. A voter identified a foreign person registered at his address. He says he lives in that apartment since 1990s and does not know who that person might be.
PS 1/139 Chisinau. A voter identified that unknown persons are registered at his address.
PS 1/153 Chisinau. A voter was not found in the basic voters’ lists, he was allowed to vote, being included in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/85 Chisinau. A voter noticed that her neighbor, who lived on 4 Onisifor Ghibu St., ap. 41,and  died 15 years ago, was still on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/76 Chisinau. During the election day, 10 people were not found on the basic voters’ lists and were included in the supplementary lists of the PS.
PS 1/118 Chisinau. A voter came to vote to the PS 118, where he had previously voted, but was referred to another polling station (PS 117).

Taking photos of the voting ballots – 8 cases.
PS 1/41 Chisinau. A voter photographed his ballot. Following  an observer’s remarks, he deleted the pictures.
PS 2/17 Balti. A voter photographed the ballot, but at the request of the EBPS president, he deleted the photo.
PS 2/5 Balti. A voter photographed the ballot, refusing to comply with the EBPS’s request to delete the picture. When the voter was leaving the PS, the police intervened. As a result, the picture was deleted.
PS 1/281 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot. At the request of EBPS members, the photo was deleted.
PS 1/65 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot.
PS 1/2 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot. The photo was not deleted because the voter left the PS too fast.
PS 1/17 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot, at the request of the PS president, he deleted the photo.
PS 1/183 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot, the EBPS members made some remarks, but the voter did not react.

Voting with deficiencies while presenting  ID documents – 3 cases.
PS 1/135 Chisinau. Two voters, mother and son (with a disability), presented themselves to vote without identity documents. Given that he knows them personally, the president of the EBPS allowed them to vote. ID data were taken from the basic voters’ lists.
PS 1/248, Chisinau. A voter was registered in the SIAS Elections, in the absence of ID supplementary card. When attempting to sign up and receive the ballot, he was told that he could not vote in the absence of a supplementary card. However, the SIAS Elections system recorded him as having exercised his right to vote.
PS 1/87 Chisinau. Two voters came to vote, presenting as a confirmation of their identities the agreement on the sale and purchase of a house in Chisinau; they have their residence visas in Sangera. The president of the PS said they had to vote in Sangera. The voters threatened to return with the media.

Cancellation of unused ballots before closing the PS – 3 cases.
PS 1/140 Chisinau. The president and secretary of the EBPS decided to start canceling unused ballots, went into a separate room together with a contender’s observer.
PS 1/41 Chisinau. At 8:40 p.m., the president and other EBPS members began canceling the remaining ballots.
PS 1/17, Chisinau. PS members began cancelling unused ballots at 8:30 p.m.

Others – 2 cases
PS 2/3 Balti. One and the same mobile ballot box was removed twice from the PS, first, to be taken to the hospital and then to people’s domiciles. Both times when it was removed records were made.

PS 1/69, Chisinau. A voter voted in the morning and then returned with a visually impaired woman. Going past the observer of an election contender, he told the observer that he had accomplished what he was expected to. The voter waited for the woman and took her ID to check if it was stamped. During the day, several people passed by the candidate’s observer and reported him on the vote.

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]

May 20, 2018

Time: 19:30

Promo-LEX Observation Mission finds,

Restricted access or obstruction of a free observation process in the polling station – 1 case.
PS 1/190 Chisinau. The Promo-LEX observer is intimidated by another observer, representing an election contender, who watches her by making video shootings and taking pictures.

Presence of advertising materials, posters, election boards within the area of the polling station (100 meters within the PS) – 1 case.
PS 2/10 Balti. Two cars with the emblem of an election contender, were parked for 30-40 minutes 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 1/165 Chisinau. 3 stationary ballot boxes have only 1 seal each. The PS received a total of  5 seals, of which 4 were used (including  the mobile box) and one was deposited by the president of the EBPS.
PS 1/54 Chisinau. There are 2 sealed stationary ballot boxes with 2 seals each in the PS.
PS 1/283 Chisinau. Stationary ballot boxes were sealed with 2 seals each.

Unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the polling station, or within 50 meters of the polling station – 6 cases
PS 2/39, Balti. An unauthorized person discussed in the PS with an observer and a representative with the right to consultative vote, representing an election contender. The Promo-LEX observer reported this fact to the president of the PS, who spoke to the above person. The citizen left the PS with one of the two observers.
PS 1/205 Chisinau. A voter, supposedly an MP representing the party of an election contender, came to the PS to check how the voting process was taking place. His unauthorized stay in the PS lasted from 15.40 to 15.50. At the request of the EBPS president, he left the PS.
PS 1/270 (1/271), Chisinau. An MP, representing the party of an election contender, spent 10 minutes in the PS. Throughout this period, he discussed with voters and observers of the contender, he was supporting.
PS 1/284 Chisinau. An MP was seen twice around the PS. In the first case, he was seen at around 2.00 p.m. within 50 m of the PS, talking (about 15 minutes) to some people, then at around 5p.m., talking to another person for 10-25 minutes.
PS 1/236 Chisinau. Two unauthorized persons, one of whom is an MP, representing the party of an election contender, entered the PS. They discussed with party observers for 5-7 minutes.
PS 1/17 Chisinau. An observer representing an election contender stood beside the ballot box. The PS president said he did not have to stay in that place. The observer disagreed with the president and called the representatives of the contender, who delegated him. An MP came from that faction and called the PS president for a discussion. The details of the discussion are not known.

Electioneering  or bad PR within / or near the polling station to determine voters’ choice – 3 cases.
PS 1/278, Chisinau. Two voters, being inside the PS, consulted each other about the candidate they were going to vote for. One recommended the other to vote for a particular candidate, so it was heard by all those present in the PS.
PS 2/55, Balti. There were two voters in the PS, who were discussing the candidate they were going to vote for. The discussion was heard by all those present in the PS.
PS 2/3, Balti. A woman campaigned for a contender. Someone called the police, who came and said they would draw up a record. The woman left the PS.

Organized transportation of voters (buses, minibuses, or other transport units that would normally not be in the vicinity of the PS) – 2 cases.
PS 16/42 Jora de Mijloc. Several people, supporting a contender, were seen within 30 m of the PS. They drove a blue Opel with the registration number OR BK 056. They brought voters to the polling station and verified them before entering the section.
PS 16/43, Jora de Mijloc. Two cars brought voters to the PS, it was a Nissan with the registration number Orhei BM216 and a Volkswagen Golf, of red color. It is not known what election contender they are representing.

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) – 2 cases
PS 1/27, Chisinau. An operator announced that SIAS Elections system stopped functioning on his computer. Only one computer was working. After about 15 minutes, the system started working again.
PS 1/295 Chisinau. The SIAS Elections system showed with respect to a person that she had already voted, but the woman demonstrated that she did not participate in the voting (she presented the identity card and the basic voters’ lists did not mention that she voted). Respectively, the president allowed her to vote.
PS 1/247 Chisinau. When a voter came to the PS to exercise his right to vote, the SIAS Elections system identified the voter as having already voted. The EBPS drew up a report that allowed the voter to be included in the supplementary voters’ lists (having checked the basic voters’ lists, it was found that someone had previously signed on behalf of that person).

Faults in the voters’ lists (address discrepancies, deceased voters, signatures made instead of other people) – 27 cases.
PS 1/54 Chisinau. The voter was not on the basic list, but his name was in the SIAS Elections system. The president decided to include the person in the supplementary list.
PS 1/152 Chisinau. A voter noted on the list the name of a citizen that deceased in 2002. The president said there was no death certificate and a prior request should have been submitted in this respect prior to the day of elections.
PS 1/45 Chisinau. A voter identified two diseased  persons on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/106 Chisinau. A voter noticed that an unknown person is registered at his address, he wrote the phrase “He does not live at this address” next to the name of that person.
PS 1/51 Chisinau. A voter saw on the voters’ lists that an unknown person is registered at his address.
PS 1/152 Chisinau. A voter noticed that an unknown person is domiciled at his address.
PS 1/98 Chisinau. Two voters (the Lungu family) found on the voters’ lists two people, who are domiciled at their address (Alba Iulia St.).
PS 1/144 Chisinau. A woman wrote an appeal to the CEC, stating that there were voters registered at her address, who did not actually live there.
PS 1/152 Chisinau. The voters state that  the former owners of their apartment continue (for many years) to appear on the basic voters’ lists, even if they are not officially domiciled at their address (13 Vanatorilor St.).
PS 1/54 Chisinau. The voter was neither on the list, nor in SIAS Elections system. The president of the PS included the voter in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/79 Chisinau. Two voters were not on the basic voters’ lists, even if they presented identity cards proving they are domiciled within the respective PS. They were allowed to vote on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/278 Chisinau. A voter says his daughter changed her domicile 16 years ago, but still remained on the basic voters’ lists.
PS 1/132 Chisinau. A voter found the name of a person, who deceased 20 years ago, on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/233 Chisinau. Two voters (a family) found on the basic voters’ lists two people, who are registered at the same place of residence (de facto, they have not lived there for about 10 years). The voters filed an appeal.

PS 1/54 Chisinau. A voter did not find his name either in the SIAS Elections system, nor on the basic voters’ lists. The president of the EBPS allowed him to vote on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/136 Chisinau. A voter noticed on the voters’ lists a foreign person, registered at his address.
PS 2/17 Balti. A voter identified on the voters’ lists the name of her husband, who died 20 years ago.
PS 1/54 Chisinau. A voter was not identified in SIAS Elections, nor was he included in the basic voters’ lists, even if he demonstrated on the basis of his ID that he is domiciled within the area of the PS. The voter voted on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/140 Chisinau. A voter found that a person, who had been deceased for many years, is on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/153 Chisinau. A voter was not identified in the SIAS Elections system, neither was he included in the basic voters’ lists, even if he demonstrated on the basis of his identity card that he is domiciled within the area of the PS. The voter voted on supplementary lists.
PS 1/87 Chisinau. A voter, who voted in the previous elections only in this PS, did not find his name in the basic voters’ lists. The voter wanted to write an appeal, but the PS president did not allow him, claiming he had to write a complaint to the CEC.
PS 1/138 Chisinau. A voter identified a foreign person, registered at his address. Although the person had not lived there for many years, he was still on the basic voters’ lists.
PS 1/80 Chisinau. Some voters found that the voters’ lists included names of the former owners of their flat and are registered at the same address. They are trying to solve this problem already the 3rd year, but in vain.
PS 1/151 Chisinau. A voter noted that 2 unknown peorsons are registered at his address. The voter was indignant and filed an appeal.
PS 1/302, Chisinau. A voter identified on the basic voters’ lists  2 foreign persons registered at his address.
PS 1/159 Chisinau. A voter noted that his former home owner was also registered at his address despite the fact that he died 7 years ago.
PS1/139 Chisinau. Two persons, with their residence places within the PS, were not on the basic voters’ lists. They voted and were included in the supplementary voters’ lists.

Taking photos of voting ballots – 13 cases.
PS 1/158 Chisinau. A voter took a photo of the ballot, the EBPS members noticed it and called the police, the photo was deleted.
PS 16/41 Jora de Mijloc. A voter, while being in the voting booth, photographed the ballot.  The EBPS president noticed this moment and asked to delete the picture. The voter deleted the photo.

PS 1/140 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot. He complied with the request of EBPS members to delete the picture.
PS 1/127 Chisinau. A voter photographed his ballot. At the request of the EBPS members, the photo was  deleted.
PS 1/206 Chisinau. A voter photographed the ballot in the voting booth. The fact  was noticed, but no one said anything.
PS 1/206 Chisinau. While being in the voting booth, a voter photographed the ballot.  The president of the PS noted this and asked to delete the photo. The image was deleted by the voter.
PS 1/103 Chisinau. A man voted, then photographed his ballot. EBPS members commented on this fact, but he left without deleting the photo.
PS 2/13 Balti. A voter photographed the ballot. He was noticed, but he did not want to delete the picture, saying the photo should be shown to his boss at the workplace. The man became aggressive, and police had to intervene.
PS 1/230, Chisinau. A voter photographed his ballot. EBPS members did not react to observers’ remarks.
PS 1/175 Chisinau. A voter photographed his ballot, the EBPS president noticed it, the picture was deleted.
PS 1/217 Chisinau. A voter went to the voting booth and photographed his ballot. An EBPS member noticed this moment and asked to delete the picture. The voter  did so and then left.
PS 1/102 Chisinau. A voter photographed his ballot. He did not comply with the request of EBPS members to delete the picture.
PS 1/299 Chisinau. A voter attempted to photograph the ballot. Given that he was noticed, the attempt failed.

Irregular voting at the place of domicile – 3 cases.
PS 1/54 Chisinau. A voter requested to vote at the domicile for health reasons. He did not write a request in this respect. The mobile ballot box  was to go to his place at 3.00 p.m., following the verbal request of the social worker.
PS 1/138 Chisinau. On the day of voting, there were 8 voting requests in the respective PS. The EBPS members, who left the mobile ballot box took 10 ballots but returned only 1 unused ballot, as 9 people voted, including an elderly person, who had not previously applied for voting at the place of residence.
PS 1/197 Chisinau. Several requests were made by voters with visual deficiencies, who needed special equipment to vote, the equipment was missing in the polling station. Finally, they voted, but encountered difficulties.

Others
PS 1/297 Chisinau. The minutes of the PS opening process were not introduced in the ballot box at the opening of the PS. This was noticed by the observers, who were inside the PS. The president of the PS said it was because everyone was in a hurry and forgot to introduce it into the box. At the moment, the minutes are in a folder with other documents, held by the EBPS president.
PS 1 / 212 Chisinau. A voter (who is ill) was brought by car. He could not enter the polling station. The president decided to take the voters’ lists where the man’s name was included, took a ballot and the mobile box with her and left the PS, heading for the voter. The man voted. The observers of an election contender filed an appeal against this case.
PS 1/54 Chisinau. The electricity was disconnected, but one of the computers worked, being charged by a generator.

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]

May 20, 2018

Time: 9:30 a.m.

By 09.15 of the day of the new local elections of May 20, 2018, the Promo-LEX Observation Mission found the following violations: ballot boxes have not been sealed as provided by the legal procedures; unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the polling station, or within 50 meters of the polling station; taking photos of ballots, etc.

Restricted access or obstruction of a free observation process in the polling station (PS) – 1 case.
PS 1/46 Chisinau. President of the PS prohibits the observer from moving through the PS. When the Short Term Observer (STO) approached the voters’ list to see why a voter was indignant, the PS president banned it, referring to the protection of personal data.

Presence of advertising materials, posters, election panels within the polling station (100 meters of the PS) – 4 cases
PS 1/285 Chisinau. There is an advertising poster of A4 format within 100 meters of the EBPS.
PS 2/238 Balti. Presence of A4 posters.
PS 1/138 Chisinau. There is a billboard with posters of two candidates.
PS 1/265 Chisinau. There are election posters of 3 candidates within 100 meters of EBPS.

Ballot boxes have not been sealed according to the legal procedures – 9 cases of ballot boxes with broken / damaged, or missing seals.
PS 1/289 Chisinau. There are 2 stationary ballot boxes in the PS, which have been sealed with only 2 seals. The STO points out that there are more seals available in the PS. The PS president said there aren’t any.
PS 1/245 Chisinau. Stationary ballot boxes (2) have been sealed with only 2 seals. EBPS President said he does not have a larger number of seals.
PS 1/213 Chisinau. There are 2 stationary ballot boxes in the PS that have been sealed with only 3 seals each.
PS 1/257 Chisinau. A stationary ballot box in the PS has only 3 seals. A seal has been deteriorated, although there are spare seals, the PS president did not apply any.
PS 1/180 Chisinau. Ballot boxes in the polling station have only 2 seals each (2 ballot boxes). The EBPS received only 5 seals for the ballot boxes.
PS 1/160 Chisinau. Ballot boxes in the polling station (2 ballot boxes) have only 2 seals. The reason given is an insufficient number of seals.
PS 1/219 Chisinau. Two ballot boxes have been sealed with 3 seals.
PS 1/229 Chisinau. Two stationary ballot boxes in the PS have been sealed with only 2 seals. The President of the PS said there are not enough seals to apply 4 on each ballot box.
PS 1/236 Chisinau. There are 3 ballot boxes in the PS, 2 stationary ones with only two seals and the mobile ballot box has only three seals.

Unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the PS or within 50 meters of the PS – 3 cases
PS 16/43 Jora de Mijloc. 2 persons, representing one of the competitors, are in the PS from its opening. They claimed to be observers, but they did not have observer’s identity cards and said they would receive them later. They installed video cameras and took pictures.
PS 1/128 Chisinau. A citizen spent about 30 minutes in the polling station, possibly he is the husband of a EBPS member, no one told him to leave the PS, nor made any comments.
PS 1/104 Chisinau. The polling station is located within the I. Creanga University, on Cornului Street. There is a stall with windows behind the voting booth, where the security guard is located (one person), who was asked to leave the stall, but he refused.

Unjustified cessation/ adjournment of voting in the polling station – 1 case.
PS 16/041 Jora de Mijloc. A voter notified the president of the PS of the presence of cameras within the PS. At the initiative of the president, the PS stopped the activity for 10-15 minutes, the president asked the members of the PS if they were for or against the cameras. EBPS members voted against, except for the president. Finally, the cameras were turned off, but they are still in the PS.

Organized transportation of voters (buses, minibuses, or other transport units that would normally not be in the vicinity of the PS) – 1 case.
PS 16/042 Jora de Mijloc. Several people, representing a contender, are staying within 30 m of the polling station. They are on an Opel car of blue color, registration number OR BK 056, they are bringing voters to the polling station and checking them before entering the station. They brought people to the PS at least twice.

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) – 6 cases.
PS 1/10 Chisinau. The Internet connection disappeared at 7:00 a.m. The technical support service was contacted.
PS 2/42 Balti. The Internet connection was interrupted for 5 minutes, meanwhile, voters were checked on the paper lists.
PS 1/299 Chisinau. The SIAS system could not be accessed for a period of 15 minutes. For this period, the voting was suspended. The problem was solved by requiring a technician to check the Internet connection.
PS 1/128 Chisinau. Only one operator is working because the cable internet does not work, and only one operator has an internet modem.
PS 1/246 Chisinau. There was no Internet connection for a short period of time. There was no voter at that time. The connection was soon re-established.
PS 1/120 Chisinau. One of the computers does not work, the operator went to the CEC to take another computer. Meanwhile, a line has formed, since more voters came in at the same time.

Deficiencies in voters’ lists (address discrepancies, deceased voters, signatures made instead of other people) – 2 cases.
PS 1/85 Chisinau. A voter noted that an unknown person was registered at his address on the voters’ list. This case had been repeated in previous elections. The lady wrote a notification in this respect both last time and this time again.
PS 1/80 Chisinau. A voter noted that an unknown person is registered at the address, where he is domiciled. He did not write any notification in this respect.

Taking photos of ballots – 1 case.
PS 1/027. A voter took a photo of the ballot, an observer saw this and notified the president of the PS, but it was too late as the voter left. 

Others – 2 cases.
PS 1/115, Chisinau. At 7:20 a.m., an observer representing a competitor, was present at the polling station without an identity card. EBPS members allowed him to enter on the basis of his accreditation.
PS 1/245 Chisinau. A voter registered in the system, after which he refused to take the ballot and left. His ballot remained intact, it was not canceled.

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]

On May 3, 2018, the Promo-LEX Observation Mission (OM) launched its second monitoring report on the new local elections to be held on May 20, 2018. In the report, the OM reveals several issues, related to the activities of electoral bodies, financing of electoral campaigns, as well as to the use of administrative resources by electoral contenders, or for their benefit. Additionally, incitement to hatred and discrimination was a common practice over the monitored period.

Promo-LEX observers continue to be obstructed at District Electoral Councils of Chisinau

Promo-LEX OM regrets the continued obstruction of Promo-LEX observers by the District Electoral Council no.1 in Chisinau. The observers are prohibited from making photocopies of electoral contenders’ files, in compliance with the provisions of the legislation on the protection of personal data, neither are they offered copies of such records. In this context, we regret the refusal of the majority of the CEC members to include on the meeting agenda of April 24, 2018 and examine the proposal of three CEC members to amend the Regulation on the Status of Observers and the procedure of their accreditation. This proposal aimed at explaining the observers’ rights to make video / photo shootings and to harmonize the practice used by different electoral bodies in this respect.

Electoral bodies respect the schedule

According to the observers’ visits, the District Electoral Councils (DECs) worked in accordance with the approved work schedule and the deadline for setting up the Electoral Bureaus of the Polling Stations (EBPSs) has been respected by all DECs. The voters’ lists were sent to the local public administration within the stipulated term.

231 cases of electoral promotion

According to Promo-LEX observers, at least 231 activities of electoral promotion were held during the monitored period in only three localities: Chisinau – 142 (61.47%), Balti – 88 (38.10%) and Jora de Mijloc, Orhei District) – 1 (0.43%). Most of the activities were organized by the Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) – at least 123 activities (53.25%); Dignity and Truth Platform Party (PPPDA) – 31 activities (13.42%), Our Party (PN) – 19 activities (8.23%), etc. The most widely and actively used promotional tools are meetings with citizens (50%) and tents (22%).

Electoral contenders do not report all campaign expenses

In the first 2 weeks of the campaign (13 – 27 April 2018), 6 electoral contenders declared revenues of 3,715,140 lei and expenses of 3,476,068.46 lei. Promo-LEX revealed a bank transfer from the current account of the PSRM to the Electoral Fund account of the PSRM amounting to 955 940 lei, which can be qualified as a donation made by a legal entity. We remind in this context, that the ceiling of donations made by legal entities to the account of Electoral Fund for an election campaign is 100 average monthly salaries, i.e. maximum 615000 lei.

The observation mission also found expenditures made by Shor Party (PPS) in the village of Jora de Mijloc (Orhei District) estimated at 114,100 lei. It should be specified that the maximum ceiling of the Electoral Fund for Jora de Mijloc (Orhei District) is 93,504 lei.

The independent candidate Silvia Radu either did not submit the financial report within the specified period, i.e. until 30 April 2018, or it was not published by the DEC no.1 of Chisinau until the publication of the Monitoring Report no. 2.

Promo-LEX OM states that 8 electoral contenders (PSRM, PPP, PDM, PL, PPPDA, PN, PAS, PUN) failed to fully reflect the expenditures they had during the 2 weeks of the electoral campaign. The total amount of unreported expenses is estimated to be at least 672,489 lei.

Use of administrative resources by electoral contenders

Promo-LEX observers reported at least 25 cases that can be qualified as use of administrative resources: 10 meetings with voters, held in kindergartens during working hours (PSRM-7, PN-2, independent candidate (IC) Elena Griţco-1); 8 meetings with the voters organized on the premises of medical institutions during working hours (PSRM 5 -, PPŞ – 1, PL – 1, PPPDA – 1); 5 meetings with voters organized within the premises of state enterprises during working hours (PSRM – 3, PN – 2); 1 case of involvement of public authorities in the contender’s electoral activities during working hours (PUN); 1 case of unauthorized involvement of the electoral contender Silvia Radu in the activities of the Chisinau City Hall.

A special case of the use of administrative resources was the involvement of the President of the Republic of Moldova in the promotion of the PSRM electoral contender, Ion Ceban, which can be described as electoral agitation using the image of public authorities.

Incitement to hatred and discrimination present in contenders’ speeches

Promo-LEX OM continued to monitor cases of incitement to hatred and discrimination in contenders’ speeches. According to the information gathered, there were at least 7 cases, when electoral contenders were targeted by such messages and two cases, where the contenders generated such speeches.

As for the contenders, who have been affected by various forms of intolerance, we refer to 4 politicians. Those targeted in messages that incite hatred and discrimination are the PPPDA candidate for Chisinau mayor general Andrei Năstase (in 4 cases out of 7), followed by Valeriu Munteanu, Ion Ceban and Silvia Radu (1 case each).

On the other hand, Valeriu Munteanu, Liberal Party candidate for the position of mayor general of Chisinau, twice delivered speeches that incite hatred and promote age-related stereotypes.

Note: Monitoring period April 18 – May 1, 2018. The finances of the electoral contenders were monitored for April 13-27, 2018.

***
The New Local Election Observation Mission of May 20, 2018 is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and co-funded by the Justice and Human Rights Department of the Soros Foundation-Moldova, on the monitoring of the speech incitement to hatred and discrimination component.

For further information, please contact:
Axenia Chirilov, Communications Officer of Promo-LEX Association;
GSM: 060 16 83 14; E-mail: [email protected]