Chişinău, February 8, 2011 – The monitoring of the early parliamentary elections on November 28, 2010 final report launched today by the Promo-LEX association concludes the monitoring effort’s activity and includes the main tendencies reported by the observers, the effort’s concerns and the recommendations aimed at improving the electoral process in the Republic of Moldova.

The Promo-LEX effort has reported a balanced performance of both the public and the electoral administrations. It also observed that the majority of the electoral competitors have carried out diverse and active campaigns in a healthy competitive environment. Voters have demonstrated an increased interest in the electoral process, providing a massive presence on the election day. The results of the specialized operations carried out by Promo-LEX have largely confirmed the official results, both for the initial count and for the votes recount.

Nevertheless, the electoral process demonstrated a number of deviations from existing national electoral procedures and international democratic electoral practices. Some of these deviations were of sporadic nature, while others were systemic. Electoral competitors failed to demonstrate financial transparency and isolated cases of violence and intolerance overshadowed the electoral campaign.
Moreover, Promo-LEX found that the processes of counting and of recounting the votes involve an excessive use of logical controls, thus making these processes susceptible to human error. Regretfully, the monitoring effort found a passiveness from the side of voters as far as verifying the correctness of their entry into the voting rolls.

“Although the November 28 elections have represented an active democratic exercise, we remain concerned about the limited transparency of the main decisions taken as part of the electoral process”, said Pavel Postica, Deputy Chief of the Monitoring Effort. “Announcing the date of elections, amending the electoral legislation in a hasty manner, campaign financing and clashes between competitors, over-night held recount – all these could shatter in the future the voters’ trust in the electoral process.”

Based on the reported tendencies, the monitoring effort has formulated a list of concerns which are grouped based on the weight of the following criteria: the number, the geography and the repetition in time of the findings; the consequences on the electoral processes and on the involved persons; the expediency of the intervention from the part of the authorities. These concerns served as basis for putting together a list of recommendations made in good faith and aimed at contributing to the improvement of the electoral processes and raising the level of trust of the population towards elections.

Promo-LEX has carried out the long term monitoring of the electoral period in the context early parliamentary elections from November 28, 2010 within the framework of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. The effort has monitored the electoral process in all the electoral districts of the Republic of Moldova in the period October 6 – December 27, 2010. The Promo-LEX monitoring team has included 42 long term observers, 30 medium term observers and approximately 2,400 short term observers. The observers’ activity has been coordinated by a central team which, among others, was responsible for training all the observers in the field of electoral procedures and of the non-partisan and independent character of the monitoring effort.

Promo-LEX has carried out a parallel vote tabulation operation (PVT), a qualitative and quantitative quick count of votes (Quick Count), a monitoring of the election day using mobile teams. For the vote recount, Promo-LEX has conducted a parallel tabulation of the recount results. The effort has published 4 interim reports during the electoral campaign, 3 interim reports on election day, has issued press releases on 3 special operations carried out on election day and has drafted the present final report.

Promo-LEX is a non-governmental, non-partisan and not-for-profit organization, promoting in the Republic of Moldova, including in the Transnistrian region, of democratic values and of international human right standards. The Promo-LEX monitoring effort was 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 this report belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the donors.

The full copy of the report is available here.

For more details, please contact: Ion Manole, Head of the Promo-LEX Monitoring Effort: Tel: (22) 450024, GSM: 069070800, e-mail: [email protected]

Following the monitoring of the ballot recount tabulation in all the District Electoral Constituencies (DECs) in the country, and a Parallel Tabulation of Recount Results with a maximum margin of error of 0.49%, Promo-LEX found that the vote recount confirmed the results of the initial count.

The Promo-LEX monitoring effort deployed over 80 observers across the country. The monitors observed directly the process of dispatching the sacks with electoral materials to the precinct electoral bureaus (PEBs). After the recount the observers watched the delivery of protocols and other electoral materials from the PEBs to the DECs. The observers made digital copies of the recount protocols using digital cameras. Based on the photographs, Promo-LEX central teams carried out a Tabulation of Recount Results, parallel to the CEC.

Despite technical deficiencies and a careless attitude shown by some election officials, the vote recount process met the deadlines and most of the legal standards. The Promo-LEX monitoring effort congratulates the CEC for the rapid organization of the majority of electoral officials across the country. Promo-LEX is also pleased to note a substantial increase in the number of PEB protocols compiled in compliance with the logical controls, based on the formulas suggested by the CEC.

Yet, the Promo-LEX observers found a number of irregularities and deficiencies in the recount process. To help improve similar efforts in the future and guided by its mission of a responsible monitoring effort Promo-LEX is drawing the attention of the relevant electoral stakeholders to the observations compiled in this document.

Among the observations of the Promo-LEX monitoring effort is the delayed start of the recount process. According to the CEC Guidelines, the recount was due to start at 08:00 beginning with the distribution of electoral materials from courts to PEBs. Delayed distribution of sacks with electoral documents was registered in 24 out of 35 electoral constituencies. Thusly, in 18 electoral constituencies the recount started with delays of up to one hour, and in 6 other electoral constituencies the process was delayed by more than one hour.

Other shortcomings were related to the training of the PEB members. Some DECs failed to give the recount specific instruction to the members of the PEBs before the day of the recount. In some regions the training was done on the very day of the recount, which delayed the process of distributing the electoral materials.

The Promo-LEX observers in 8 (23%) constituencies reported 30 isolated cases where the seals on the sacks containing the electoral materials were seemingly broken. Based on its observations, Promo-LEX can assert that the seals are of poor quality material that can easily scramble to pieces during transportation, relocation, or in other similar circumstances. Thusly the reports about broken seals are inconclusive as to evaluating the integrity of the electoral materials at this stage of the recount.

The dispatch of the packages with electoral materials for the recount breached some provisions of the CEC Guidelines. According to the Guidelines, the packages with the electoral documents are dispatched to the PEB chairperson in the presence of at least two PEB members, accompanied by a policeman. This requirement was observed only in 6 (17%) electoral constituencies; in 848 out of 1,962 polling stations this rule was not adhered to.

The ballot count normally follows two verification procedures: the preparatory procedure of compiling a Special Count Form and the procedure of verifying these preliminary data. The electoral officials failed to use any of these procedures during the December 15, 2010 recount, neither was it advised by any CEC regulations.

The electoral officers at some DECs prevented the Promo-LEX observers from taking digital photographs of the recount protocols. This occurred in particular in the Chisinau municipality, the districts of Botanica and Ciocana. The recount protocols from Ciocana were made available to the observers only on the day following the recount, at the Chisinau DEC. The reasons for the refusal in some cases were obscure, and this prompted the Promo-LEX to file a complaint. The response to the complaint was received on 17 December 2010, which reads the observers were prevented from taking pictures because they allegedly failed to inform the chairperson of the Chisinau Election Council “[…] of their intentions”. The observers could not find the DEC chairperson on that day, while readily and publicly available contacts to reach him were absent. In the end, the recount protocols from 3 polling stations from Botanica were never made available to the observers.

Following the processing of the 1,959 copies of the protocols available to the observers, Promo-LEX found deviations from the verification rules advised by the CEC in 147 protocols. For various objective reasons, including quality shortcomings of some photographs taken by the observers, 100 protocols were not processed and thusly excluded from the analysis.

After processing and calculating data from 1,712 (87%) domestic protocols, excluding the data from overseas voting, Promo-LEX has found that the Parallel Tabulation of the recount confirms the official preliminary results announced by the CEC immediately after elections. The maximum margin of error following the extrapolation of data from 1,962 polling stations in the country is 0.49%. A table containing comparative data is annexed.

The findings and the recommendations of the observation mission are formulated in good faith and aim to contribute to improving the electoral process. The Monitoring of the Preterm Parliamentary Elections of 28 November 2010 Project is carried out within the framework of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. The 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.

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

DOC- PVT

Promo-LEX, a non-partisan non-governmental organization that seeks to advance democracy and promote human rights in Moldova, has found that, after conducting its parallel vote tabulation of all 1962 domestic polling stations, its Quick Count findings were within the margin of error and confirm the preliminary official tabulation by the Central Election Commission of domestic votes. An annex is attached illustrating the results. Promo-LEX analysis covered both the quality of electoral processes as well as actual vote tabulation.

“I’m sure that as a result of collaboration and partnerships between the electoral stakeholders that the elections have been carried out successfully and have been recognized as more democratic by several categories of observers,” said Deputy Head of the monitoring effort, Pavel Postica. “On behalf of the Promo-LEX central team, I thank all our observers for their dedication and professionalism throughout the monitoring mission.”

Promo-LEX found that although election day was long and, in many cases, conditions in the polling stations were very difficult, often lacking proper heat and lighting, the counting and tabulation of results was generally conducted in an orderly manner and in good faith. The vast majority of protocols were completed without major flaws. Out of 1962 protocols, only four had inconsistencies that were serious enough to require a recount at the polling station. These concerns were eventually resolved. Promo-LEX appreciates that polling station and district election council officials were mostly cooperative and appeared to be working in good faith to carry out their duties.

Furthermore, according to Promo-LEX’s statistical observation, 99 percent of polling stations opened on time with ballot boxes shown to be empty before sealing and voting booths arranged to ensure the secrecy of the vote. In 94 percent of polling stations there were no complaints by competitors or voters and in 92 percent of Promo-LEX observers were shown ballot papers during the vote count, allowing them to confirm final tabulation numbers.

With no evidence of fraud or major wrongdoing, Promo-LEX is taking the opportunity to fine tune the process. In examining individual protocols, Promo-LEX did find minor inconsistencies in 390 of the country’s protocols, as follows: Chişinău 76, Bălţi 13, Basarabeasca 4, Briceni 8, Cantemir 11, Călăraşi 10, Cimişlia 7, Criuleni 9, Donduşeni 7, Drochia 1, Dubăsari 3, Edineţ 15, Făleşti 19, Floreşti 14, Hînceşti 11, Ialoveni 15, Leova 10, Nisporeni 6, Ocniţa 4, Orhei 1, Rezina 15, Rîşcani 11, Sîngerei 11, Soroca 21, Străşeni 1, Şoldăneşti 7, Ştefan Vodă 9, Taraclia 6, Teleneşti 8, Ungheni 21, UTA Găgăuzia 8. Yet, these inconsistencies were not large enough to shift the final domestic outcome. While some of the discrepancies may have resulted from deficiencies in the process of copying the protocols, Promo-LEX found that most of the shortcomings fell into four categories:

• Minor errors in basic arithmetic. Calculations are done manually, making them very susceptible to human error. Sums of individual vote tallies were sometimes off by one or two votes. With 39 competitors listed, each requiring individual tabulation, the risk of a mathematical error was naturally high.
• Confusion on the part of election officials due to unclear wording in the protocols. The protocols included questions meant to check the management of ballots; however, the wording was difficult for a layman to understand and lacked further explanation. Promo-LEX found these errors in the fields calculating the total number of ballots issued and the total number cast, and in those calculating the total number of ballots received by the polling station, but not used.
• Lack of sufficient verification practices. Although representatives of electoral competitors are given the opportunity to review the protocols they appear to lack either the training or the will to exercise this right effectively. At the same time there are no official standardized procedures for correcting errors that are found. It is left to the discretion of individual polling station or DEC officials.
• Access to electoral lists by observers was limited on election day. While observers could periodically check lists, as individual voters signed in to receive their ballots, Promo-LEX observers who requested to analyze the electoral lists in more detail were not all given full access.

RECCOMENDATIONS

Given the above, Promo-LEX recommends that electoral and public authorities:

• Simplify and provide explanation of protocol questions, and include these instructions on the protocol form itself;
• Develop and implement standardized procedures for PEB and DEC officials to correct errors that are identified by logical checks on the protocol;
• Improve logistical arrangements of polling stations to reduce opportunities for human error. For example, polling stations could be equipped with computers and software that would be able to perform mathematical functions and logical checks. Additionally, physical conditions of the polling stations could be improved, to provide sufficient light for workers and heat throughout the day.
• All relevant officials should be made aware of their obligation to provide access to electoral lists, and held accountable by electoral authorities should they fail to do so.

For election day, Promo-LEX conducted a comprehensive observation and PVT by deploying observers to every polling station in the country. Complementing the comprehensive PVT, the Quick Count was based on a representative statistical sample of 299 polling stations. The findings and recommendations of the monitoring mission are made in good faith and aim at improving the quality of the electoral process. 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.

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Promo-LEX is a Non-Governmental Organisation focused on promoting democratic values and on implementing internationally recognised standards in the Republic of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region. The Promo-LEX team consists of young human rights activists striving for change within Moldovan society, advancing democracy and combating human rights violations in Moldova.

Please find attached Parallel Vote Tabulation and Quick Count in ANNEX

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

DOC – PVT

The Promo-LEX Association has carried out a Quick Count of the votes cast in the early parliamentary elections on 28 November 2010. The procedure was conducted on a nationally representative sample covering 299 polling stations out of the total 1,962. The sample was selected based on stratified simple random sampling.

The Quick Count results look as follows:
The Party of Communists of Moldova – 40.07%;
The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova – 28.64%;
The Democratic Party of Moldova – 13.73%;
The Liberal Party – 8.90%;
Other competitors – 8.67%.

The Quick Count is a method for assessing the quality of the voting process and for forecasting the final outcome of the elections with maximum precision. The Quick Count both analyzes the conduct of the polling stations and predicts the options of the voters. The margin of error of the results is maximum 1% upon processing 100% of the sample’s data.

With the Quick Count conducted, Promo-LEX is concerned about the fact that at least one third of the protocols have been erroneously tabulated and that the electoral officials of 2nd and 3rd levels have limited knowledge about how to correct these errors.

In this context, Promo-LEX is recommending: to provide adequate training to PEB and DEC members both with regard to the procedures of voting and vote counting and with regard to the tabulation of the ballot protocols. At the same time, explicit provisions should be introduced to clarify the procedures of correcting erroneously tabulated protocols.

Promo-LEX is conducting its monitoring effort within the framework of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. On election day the mission deployed 2,500 observers in all the polling stations across the country.

For additional details please contact: Cristina Nicolenco, Promo-LEX Press Officer, Phone: (22) 211622, GSM: 069882392, email: [email protected]

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]