The Observation Mission of Promo-LEX Association for the May 20 new mayoral elections identified irregularities in the main electoral registers and cases of photographing of ballots, IPN reports.
The Mission’s head Pavel Postica told a press briefing that the observers of Promo-LEX reported 53 irregularities detected in voter rolls. A voter determined that 15 persons were registered as having the domicile in his home. In many cases, voters who are abroad and who withdrew the domicile from Moldova, were found by relatives on the main electoral registers.
According to Promo-LEX, a political party obtained permits of electoral observers for its representatives even if this party does not have candidates in the race for Chisinau mayoralty. Pavel Postica said in some of the cases the permits were issued by the Central Election Commission today and the Mission notified the Commission of this. Later, those from Promo-LEX were assured by the CEC that all the issued permits will be withdrawn.
In 14 polling places, the observers noticed cases of photographing of ballots. At polling place No. 12 in Balti, a voter tried to take the ballot out of the place. After this was stopped by a member of the electoral bureau, the observer of Promo-LEX noticed that this started to talk with someone over the phone, asking if he will get the reward if he does not present the ballot.
Early in the morning, voters in Jora de Mijloc commune started to be taken to the polling place by a car and later by a minibus with the symbols of a political party. In the same village, the persons who presented themselves as observers of an election runner and entered the polling place without having appropriate permits and started to film the electoral process, later said they were journalists, but didn’t show any paper.
The observers also noticed cases of electoral campaigning in or near polling places, lack of sufficient seals for ballot boxes and the presence of unauthorized persons inside polling places. In three cases, the voters entered the polling booth accompanied by someone or were consulted about the electoral option.
Promo-LEX delegated 375 observers to monitor each of the polling places and mobile teams of observers to supervise the situation outside the polling places.
New local mayoral elections on May 20 are held in Chisinau and Balti municipalities, in Leuseni commune of Hancesti district, in Nemteni village of Hancesti district, in Jora de Mijloc commune of Orhei district, in Volovita village of Soroca district and in Parlita commune of Ungheni district. The main voter rolls for the new mayoral elections include 749 272 people. In the municipality of Chisinau, there are 631 678 voters.
