Voting at the snap mayoral elections of November 21 was organized efficiently and was conducted calmly, the Observation Mission of Promo-LEX has said, confirming the preliminary results of the Central Election Commission. Turnout was higher than ¼ of the voters, which is the electoral threshold, so that the elections were declared valid in all the 15 constituencies. The mayors of nine localities were elected, while six localities are to hold a runoff vote on December 5, Promo-LEX programs director Nicolae Panfil stated in a news conference.
18% of the monitored polling places were opened with insignificant delays. The Observation Mission of Promo-LEX reported a total of 18 incidents. The voter intimidation tendency continued. At least two cases of intimidation of voters were recorded: in Călinești village of Fălești district – intimidation on the part of representatives of PAS, while in another case through an anonymous phone call by an unidentified person.
In Cupcini, there were reported two cases of unjustified presence of unauthorized persons inside the polling station or within 100 meters from the polling station: one case involved representatives of PAS, while the other case persons affiliated to BCS. A similar case was witnessed in Călinești, Fălești and involved unidentified persons.
Three cases concerned the presence of advertising materials, such as electoral posters and billboards, within 100 meters from the polling station in the municipality of Bălți. These promoted the candidate of BCS.
In only one case, the ballot boxes weren’t sealed according to the legal procedures, in Cupcini. In the same locality, errors were identified in the register of voters.
There were reported two cases of photographing of the ballot, which is violation of the secrecy of the ballot, in Cupcini and Hârtop, and an irregularity in the vote count process, in Călinești.
The vote count within the electoral bodies was generally swift and calm. However, in at least seven polling stations (19%), the members of electoral bureaus ignored the rule saying that one member of the bureau must present the ballot to all the participants in the vote count.
The voting procedures were performed by ensuring the observance of the COVID-19 protective measures in about 89% of the polling stations.
The Observation Mission of Promo-LEX was mounted as part of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. The activity was financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
