Promo-LEX observers, reporting on events in the conduct of the election up to 11.00am, have already reported many irregularities. These concern, in the main, the late opening of voting sections, the lack of heating, the presence of security forces in the voting sections, and the displaying of electoral material in the vicinity of voting stations.

Promo-LEX reports problems with the opening of certain voting stations
A number of voting sections in the country opened late. Voting Station (VS) 32, in Caplani, VS 16 in Olăneşti (both under the Ştefan Vodă District Electoral Commission (DEC)), and VS 43 in Larga (Anenii Noi DEC) opened after 7.20am.

Also, violations of the opening procedures were recorded at many voting stations:

• At VS 55 in Dezghingea (Utag DEC), the voting slips were not counted in front of the observers, and neither were the electoral lists and voting slips distributed to members of the Precinct Electoral Bureau (PEB).
• at VS 56 in Dezghingea (Utag DEC), whilst preparing the voting section, members left the voting slips unsupervised. Later the voting slips were given to members of the BESV without the latter signing for their receipt. The verbal process for preparing the voting section was inserted into the ballot box at 7.03am
• At VS 32/4 in Alava (Ştefan Vodă DEC), the members of the PEB did not certify the registration of the observers.
• At the voting sections in Bălăbăneşti, Zăicana and Boşcana (Criuleni DEC), the members of the PEB did not certify the registration of the observers.

Promo-LEX observers found deviations from the electoral procedures relating to the ballot boxes at some voting stations. At the VS in Hagimus (Căuşeni DEC), the president of the PEB ordered that the ballot box be moved at 10.00, without allowing any observers to be present at the procedure.

Lack of heating at voting sections
In at least 35 voting sections in the country, Promo-LEX observers reported a lack of heating. Amongst the voting sections lacking heating were: VS 54 in Coşeni (Ungheni DEC); VS 251 in Codru (Chişinău DEC); 17 sections in the Sîngerei DEC; the voting section in Şirăuţi (Briceni DEC); and 15 voting sections (out of 47) in the Drochia DEC.

Unauthorised people present in voting sections
The presence of unauthorised people was recorded in many voting sections:

• At VS 32/4 in Alava (Ştefan Vodă DEC), there were people without clearance.
• At VS 56 in Dezghingea (Utag DEC), for a period of 40 minutes, a person was present who had no clearance to be there.
• At VS 28 in Avdarma (Utag DEC), a person without any visible credentials was asking voters about who they had voted for.
• At VS 32/4 in Alava (Ştefan Vodă DEC), people without clearance were present.
• In at least three voting sections, reresentatives of the police were observed (at VS 55 in Dezghingea (Utag DEC); at the VS in Grigorevca (Căuşeni DEC); and at VS 285 in Goiana (Chişinău DEC)

Electoral candidates are continuing to conduct campaign activities
In the rayon of Criuleni, on the Chișinău –Criuleni highway, a bus bearing an electoral poster for the PCRM party was circulating.

Promo-LEX observers recorded the presence of campaign posters within 50 metres of many voting sections in the country:

• VS 12 in Cimișeni (Criuleni DEC) (a campaign poster for the PCRM was observed);
• VS 19 in Dubasarii Vechi (Criuleni DEC) (a campaign poster for the PLDM was observed);
• VS 32 in Semionovca (Ştefan-Vodă DEC);
• VS 14 in Coșernița (Criuleni DEC) (a campaign poster for the PLDM was observed).

Citizens from Corjova once again have encountered obstacles in realising their right to vote. The Transnistrian militsia have installed more checkpoints, surrounded the village and tightened and intensified control at these checkpoints. “We consider these actions to be an attempt to intimidate voters. In the reports released during the campaign period we warned that such a situation could occur”, said Ion Manole.

At this time, Promo-LEX has collected data from the observers at the voting stations were a Quick Count is being conducted. Observers have reported that 99% of voting sections in the country opened on time, with 1% of voting stations opening for voting after 7.15am. In 2% of the voting sections involved in the Quick Count sample, Promo-LEX observers were denied access into the voting sections at the time of opening.

The Promo-LEX Monitoring Effort is implemented within the framework of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. For Election-Day Promo-LEX has deployed 2500 observers throughout Moldova, covering all voting stations.

For further details contact: Cristina Nicolenco, Promo-LEX press officer: Tel: (22) 211622,
GSM: 069882392, email: [email protected]

Promo-LEX observers, reporting on the period up to 15.00, have found new problems in the electoral process, such as: inadequate equipment at voting stations, failures in the performance of members of the Precinct Electoral Bureau (PEB), violations of voting procedures, unauthorised electoral campaigning, irregularities in cases where people have voted at home, and problems with the transportation of voters to the voting stations.

Inadequate equipping of voting stations:

Observers throughout the country continue to note the improper state of certain voting stations, which are not equipped as they should be according to the relevant legal framework. The following cases may be mentioned:

• Voting Station (VS) nr.133 in Chişinău, where the voting booths are screened with a transparent material, thus not permitting voters to vote in secret;
• VS nr.22 in Ciuteşti (under the Nisporeni District Electoral Commission (DEC)), which is without lighting;
• VS nr.108 in the Botanica district of Chişinău, where the electricity supply was disconnected for two minutes .
• The unfit state and inadequate equipping of the locations used by the PEB and of the areas designated as voting stations was one of the concerns mentioned in previous Promo-LEX reports.

The performance of members of the Precinct Electoral Bureau (PEB):

The performance of PEB members at some voting stations has deficient in certain respects:

• At VS nr.22 in Ciuteşti (Nisporeni DEC), PEB members registered only 4 observers on their lists, while 9 observers were present at the voting station;
• At VS nr.17 in Corjeuţi (Briceni DEC), a voting slip was handed out after a voter had shown only a passport for foreign travel;
• At VS nr.22. in Pohrebea (Dubăsari DEC), the president and vice-president of the PEB were absent for two hours;
• VS nr.34 in Bălţi (Bălţi DEC), was closed from 10.05 to 10.25, because an ambulance had been called for a voter who felt unwell.

Voting procedure:

In many localities in the country, functionaries have allowed deviations from correct voting procedure. In particular, there have been cases in which more people have been admitted into the voting booths than is allowed, and in which people with visual disabilities have encountered difficulties voting. Promo-LEX observers have also reported cases in which the ballot boxes had already been filled, thus forcing to functionaries to extemporise a solution, be it more or less legitimate:

• At VS nr.12 in Dubăsarii Vechi (Criuleni DEC), married couples were allowed to enter the voting booths together;
• At VS nr.37 in Scorţeni (Teleneşti DEC), a person with a visual impairment was not allowed to be accompanied into the voting booth by another person;
• At VS nr.19 in Bursuceni (Sîngerei DEC), many voters made their voting slips visible, thus showing whom they had voted for;
• At VS nr.289 in Grătieşti (Chişinău DEC), one voter who had been given their voting slip returned the slip to a Bureau member and went outside of the voting station to speak on their mobile. The returned voting slip was cancelled and the voter was refused another slip upon their return;
• At VS nr.41 in Varnița (Anenii Noi DEC) was closed for 10 minutes, during which time a second ballot box was prepared, the first having already been filled. The second ballot box was fashioned out of cardboard, without a verbal process being inserted. The same situation was recorded at VS nr.40 in Varnița (Anenii Noi DEC), which was closed for 7 minutes.

Electoral lists:
The electoral lists in some voting stations were reported as being incomplete:
At VS nr.5 in Comrat (Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia (ATUG) DEC) 28 people were missing from the lists, and were subsequently added onto supplementary lists;
At VS nr.4 in Comrat (ATUG DEC), 33 people could not find themselves on the basic list.

Electoral campaigning:
Many electoral candidates continue to conduct campaign activities, contrary to the provisions of the relevant legislation. Such cases were found in the Ungheni rayon (where there were cases of text messages being sent bearing the message “Vote for VICTORY, vote for LUPU”) and around VS nr.3 in Taracalia (ATUG DEC) (where the mayor of Taraclia – Gaidarji Vasilii – was campaigning on behalf of one of the electoral candidates.)

Voting with the mobile ballot box:
Requests to vote at home should be made in person or by relatives or social assistants. Promo-LEX observers found deviations from the voting procedure in cases where the mobile ballot box was requested, in at least two voting stations in two electoral districts. For example, in VS nr.36 in Cazaclia (ATUG DEC), 6 requests to vote at home were recorded which had been drawn up by medical assistants, while at VS nr.33 in Hagimus (Căuşeni DEC), 80 requests to vote at home were submitted, 47 of which had been submitted by monks.

Transportation of voters:
In many localities, cases were noted in which voters were transported to voting stations by electoral candidates. In the Anenii Noi rayon, one candidate organised for voters to be taken from Bender to Varniţa, using two buses. The same thing was noted in the Criuleni rayon, where another candidate transported voters from the village of Zolonceni to voting station nr.12/3 in Criuleni, with a bus bearing an electoral poster of the candidate in question.

Transnistrian region:
At the entrance to the city of Bender, on the Chişinău-Bender road, the Transnistrian checkpoint has effectively doubled its checks.

In the village of Corjova, near the Mihai Eminescu highschool, the presence of 100 people with posters bearing the slogan “No to the election in Transnistria, No to Romanisation of the PMR” was recorded. A similar situation was found at a school in the village of Corjova. Those protesting were reported as being in a state of inebriation.

The Promo-LEX monitoring effort is being carried out as part of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. For the election day, 2500 observers recruited from all over the country have been trained, and deployed to all the voting sections in the Republic of Moldova.

For further details contact: Cristina Nicolenco, Promo-LEX press officer, Tel: (22) 211622, GSM: 069882392, email: [email protected]

At the close of voting, serious incidents representing violations of proper voting procedure have been recorded. Promo-LEX is in particular concerned at reported cases of multiple voting, electoral campaigning and the displaying of campaign material in and around voting stations, and at certain deficiencies in the performance of members of the Precinct Electoral Bureau (PEB), and of public functionaries.

Multiple Voting:
Promo-LEX observers reported several cases of multiple voting and attempted multiple voting.

The name of voter Petru Știrbate, the president of Territorial Organization of the PLDM from the village of Orhei, was identified on two electoral lists from two voting stations: at Voting Station (VS) nr.67 in Lucașeuca (under the Orhei District Electoral Commission (DEC)), (number 1498 on the electoral list) and at VS nr.11 in the city of Orhei (Orhei DEC) (nr. 650 on the electoral list). According to the lists, Petru Ştirbate voted in both voting stations. The signatures given in the name of the voter in question apparently do not match, although the personal details are identical. Petru Ştirbate declared in public that he voted at the voting station in the city of Orhei, while a Promo-LEX observer confirmed that Ştirbate voted at the voting station in Lucaşeuca. In connection with this, the Democratic Party has submitted a notification on the basis of which a minute has been drawn up, and the matter has been sent to the relevant investigatory bodies.

Voter Ana Maler attempted to vote twice at VS nr.40 in Varniţa, (Anenii Noi DEC), but when she was given the voting slip, she was identified by an observer from the Democratic Party. Afterwards, it was confirmed that the lady had already voted, and she was not allowed to vote again.

At VS nr.212 in the city of Chisinau, a person registered on the basic electoral lists attempted to vote repeatedly two hours after first voting, presenting a new accompanying document to his ID. Members of the PEB, recognising the voter in question, stopped them from voting for a second time

The display of campaign material:
Reports from Promo-LEX observers reported several cases in which campaign material belonging to the Liberal Party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova and the Social Democratic Party was displayed in and around two voting stations in Chisinau.

Performance of PEB members:
Multiple cases were found in which members of the PEB acted inappropriately, making decisions that lacked legal backing.

• At VS nr. 296 in Trușeni (Chișinău DEC), it was decided to make two ballot boxes from cardboard, bound with tape, after the original boxes had become full.
• At VS nr. 15 in Horodiște (Dondușeni DEC), the secretary of the PEB Gandrabură Anatolie, talked to several voters before the latter had entered the voting booths.
• At VS nr. 6 in the city of Chişinău, a Promo-LEX observer was denied access to the electoral list on the grounds that this would violate the secrecy of the voting.
• At VS nr.1 in Sângerei (Sângerei DEC), the ballot box was opened before the closure of the voting station, on the grounds that the original ballot box had become full, while the voting slips were sealed in sacks. The president of the Sângerei DEC was present while this was done.

The conduct of public functionaries:
Separate cases were found in which public functionaries were involved in campaign activities. At VS nr.44 in Stolniceni (Edineţ DEC), the mayor, Timoșca, carried out campaign activities on behalf of the PCRM throughout the day.

Within 100 meters’ of VS nr.12 in Ciobalaccia (Cantemir DEC), PLDM party member Percin, who holds the office of rayonal councilor, encouraged voters to vote for the PLDM.

Voting Procedure:
Promo-LEX observers reported violations of proper voting procedures. Cases were reported in which voters voted on the basis of documents other than those stipulated by the law. In many voting stations students were refused the right to vote on the grounds that they were not included on the basic lists, while in other voting stations voting secrecy was not guaranteed, citizens entering in pairs into the voting booths.

Voting with the mobile ballot box:
There have been separate cases of irregular voting in connection with the mobile ballot box.

• At VS nr. 2 in Basarabeasca (Basarabeasca DEC), PEB members left with two mobile ballot boxes at different times, contrary to proper procedure.
• At VS nr.11 in Căpriana (Strășeni DEC), it was found that a social worker had submitted 43 requests to vote at home, but only 16 voters exercised their right to vote in this way.
• Members of the PEB at VS nr.145 in Chisinau (Chisinau DEC), lacking written requests and medical certificates, were contacted by phone by the director of the railway hospital, who requested the mobile ballot box, specifying that 79 voting slips were needed. Afterwards, the ballot box was sent with 82 voting slips.

Electoral campaigning:
Promo-LEX observers continued to report cases of electoral campaigning on behalf of electoral candidates in or around certain voting stations.

• At VS nr.26 in Piatra Albă (Ialoveni DEC), a representative of the PCRM was found to be conducting activities;
• At VS nr.25 in Mileștii-Mici (Ialoveni DEC) Nicolai Andronache, a candidate for the office of deputy on the Liberal Party lists was conducting campaign activities near the voting station alongside other representatives of the Liberal Party;
• At VS nr.5 in Basarabeasca (Basarabeasca DEC), the president of the Youth Organisation of the PCRM in the area encouraged voters to vote for the party he was representing;
• In the town of Edineț, text messages were being sent bearing the message: “Vote for victory, vote for Lupu”;
• In the village of Șerpeni (Anenii Noi DEC), in front of the shop ‘MOLDCOOP’ in the centre of the village, near the voting station, a table had been laid out with glasses of alcoholic drinks, and a person was encouraging voters to vote for the PCRM;
• At VS nr.16 in Ciobanovca (Anenii Noi DEC), two voters, one of whom was drunk, were encouraging people to vote for the PCRM, at different times;
• At VS nr.15 in Horodişte (Donduşeni DEC), the local PEB secretary was campaigning on behalf of a particular candidate. All the party observers submitted notifications;
• At VS nr.6 in Ialoveni (Ialoveni DEC), members of the Liberal Party were found serving vodka to voters within 100 metres of the voting station;
• At VS nr.24 in Colibabovca, (Leova DEC), the candidate for the Democratic Party was handing out fliers.

Performance of observers:
Cases were recorded in which observers, present on behalf of the electoral candidates, carried out campaign activities on the premises of the voting stations.

For more details contact Cristina Nicolenco, Promo-LEX press officer: Tel: (22) 211622, GSM: 069882392, e-mail: [email protected]

According to Promo-LEX’s final pre-election monitoring report, the electoral campaigning of the last two weeks has been marked by a diversification in the campaign methods being used by the electoral candidates. In the same period, there has been a series of violent incidents related to the election, cases of abusive attempts to influence voters, and cases in which ‘electoral gifts’ have been offered.

During the period covered by the report, the monitoring effort has noted a diversification in campaign methods on the part of 19 electoral candidates. On the other hand, no campaign activities were found for the other 20 candidates. The period in question saw a large number of violent incidents related to the election, as well as abusive attempts to influence voters, and the offering of ‘electoral gifts’. Furthermore, there have been renewed, more active efforts to bring the Church into the campaign.

As with previous periods, the period covered by the present report was characterised by a lack of financial transparency on the part of candidates regarding their expenditure for travel, the publication of electoral material, political rallies (concerts), and for their campaign staff.

In the same period, the Central Electoral Committee (CEC) adopted resolutions that have completed the legislative framework for the election, but has also at times exceeded the provisions of the Electoral Code. The CEC has once again failed to fulfil the provisions of the Electoral Code relating to specifying the ways in which certain categories of voters can vote.

Promo-LEX observers found that in all the electoral constituencies, with the exception the city of Bender and the Transnistrian region, invitations to vote, produced by the CEC, were distributed. However, the CEC failed to meet the deadline for putting the electoral lists for all voting stations on its website, and has not provided one single way for accessing the lists.

Promo-LEX notes the active involvement of members of the CEC in mediating in conflict situations within the electoral bodies and in facilitating observers’ access to electoral operations. However, observers found cases of apparent partiality amongst members of the electoral bodies, and instances of negligence regarding the visibility of some voting sections, and towards respecting the working timetable of the BESV. Particularly alarming is the situation regarding technical conditions at the voting sections – particularly, in some cases, the lack of heating.

The present report covers the period 9 – 25 November 2010. It describes –within a legal framework, and within precise time limits– the electoral context and the main developments in the electoral campaign, as well as the performance of the candidates and the local and public authorities.

As part of the monitoring mission, Promo-LEX is training 42 long-term observers, spread throughout the country. These Promo-LEX observers have been trained in electoral procedures and in the non-partisan and independent character of the monitoring effort. The recommendations of the monitoring mission are made in good faith and aim at improving the quality of the electoral process.

The full copy of the report is available here.

For more information contact Cristina Nicolenco, Promo-LEX press officer: Tel: (22) 211622, GSM: 069882392, e-mail: [email protected]

As the electoral campaign intensifies, there have been cases found of intimidation against both electoral candidates and voters, according to a Promo-LEX report. Electoral candidates have been carrying out various electoral activities without hesitating to use administrative resources, and to offer “electoral gifts”.

During the monitoring period the CEC was found to have exercised its powers impartially. By the end of the time allowed, it had registered 40 electoral candidates, and had adopted and modified several instances of legislation, interpreting the law in force to the benefit of the visually impaired. Many and various forms of electoral campaigning have been recorded, though electoral candidates have relied mainly upon rallies, posters, and electoral broadcasts. Several concerts were also organized as part of various electoral campaigns.

The electoral candidates reported to the CEC, within the proper time-frame, on their use of resources from electoral funds. According to Promo-LEX observers, however, not one of the electoral candidates fulfilled the obligation to declare – in public announcements circulated nationally on a weekly basis- their financial resources and their other means of supporting their campaign activities. 12 of the 40 candidates registered in the electoral race were found to be using publicity material lacking in information that legally should be displayed.

Pavel Postica, deputy chief of the monitoring effort, stated: “The electoral campaign is intensifying in terms of the number and variety of campaign activities, a fact testifying to the seriousness of the electoral candidates’ involvement in the electoral race.”

The report found several deviations from the timetable proposed by the CEC with regard to the establishment of the electoral bodies, due to the late registration of the electoral candidates at the lower electoral bodies. Furthermore, the regulations for organizing the elections were not adjusted in line with the provisions of the Electoral code. This has led to shortcomings at the level of the lower territorial bodies when organizing voting for people who have both a visa for domicile and a visa for residence.
During the monitoring period, a series of cases was recorded involving intimidation and pressure against voters and electoral candidates, as well as many more instances where individuals were pressured into attending electoral campaign activities. Cases involving the use of administrative resources for campaigning and the offering of electoral “gifts” by candidates continue.
The report’s principal recommendations refer to the necessity of the CEC’s involvement in mediating conflicts between electoral candidates and members of the electoral bodies, and to starting measures to sensitize the electoral candidates regarding the necessity of conducting their electoral campaigns in a peaceful and civilized manner.
The report covers the period 25 October – November 8 2010, and brings together the findings of 42 long-term observers on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The monitoring of the early parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 28, 2010, is a project carried out by the Promo-LEX Association as part of The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.

The report is available here.

For more information contact Cristina Nicolenco, Promo-LEX press-officer: Tel: (22) 211622, GSM: 069882392, e-mail: [email protected]

October 28, 2010. Promo-LEX Association has released the second pre-electoral Monitoring report on the early parliamentary elections.

This report refers to the October 13 to October 25 period and describes the electoral environment, analyzes the electoral legislation and relevant regulations and presents the review of the findings made by the field observers. The report also formulates recommendations for the electoral stakeholders.

In the monitoring period, the mission found that the election authorities have shown an overall unbiased performance and, with a few exceptions, have met the time limits prescribed by the legislation. The Central Election Commission (CEC) registered new candidates and national observers. Also, the CEC received the first financial statements submitted by the electoral competitors.

The intensity of the election campaign in the first two weeks varied from region to region and depended largely on the activity of the electoral competitors. Observations showed that a small number of electoral competitors held activities of electoral nature. The first electoral incidents and the first instances of misuse by the competitors of administrative resources were recorded in this period.

The negative patterns of the electoral process identified by the observers were related to the conflict situations registered in a number of electoral districts; to the deficient financial reporting on the campaign expenses made by the candidates; to the insufficient number of places for the display of outdoor campaign advertising and violation of the advertising display rules by the electoral competitors; to the inadequate information efforts made by the local authorities concerning the possibility to verify the electoral rolls; and cases of aggressive treatment of voters by certain competitors.

The main recommendations formulated in the report concern the need for the CEC to settle differences within local election bodies, to create conditions for the display of electoral advertising; to carry out information and civic/electoral education campaigns to stimulate a high voter turnout, including on the eastern bank of the Nistru River; to run awarenes campaigns for the candidates about the importance of a peaceful and civilized behavior in the electoral process. The recommendations of the monitoring mission are formulated in good faith and aim to contribute to the improvement of the electoral process.

The report is available here.

The monitoring of the early parliamentary elections, to take place on 28 November 2010, is a project implemented by the Promo-LEX Association within the framework of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.
This project is implemented with technical and financial assistance from the United States Embassy in Moldova, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI). The opinions expressed in the report belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the donors.

Contact person: Cristina Nicolenco, Press officer, Promo-LEX GSM: + 373 69882392
E-mail: [email protected]