More than 9% of the citizens of Chisinau municipality or over 57,000 people have taken part in the referendum on the removal of Dorin Chirtoaca from mayoralty by 1pm. More than half of the voters were women and the most active voters were those from Botanica district, where the electoral registers are the longest, IPN reports.

Deputy head of the Chisinau District Electoral Council Vitalie Miron in a press briefing said that electoral posters were identified at two polling places and these were removed when the electoral office was notified. The information that the ballot boxes at some of the polling places were inappropriately sealed was confirmed. Instead of four seals, there were applied only two or three seals. In another case, an identity card was photographed. When the picture was found, this was deleted. In two cases, the persons tore up the ballots, while in another case the voter refused to have the stamp “Voted” applied in the identity card.

The voter turnout in Botanica was over 11%, in Rascani – more than 10%, in Centru – almost 9%, in Buiucani – over 8%, while in Ciocana – over 7%. The lowest turnout was reported in the suburban commune Cruzesti, while the highest one in Sangera town of Chisinau municipality, where the inhabitants also vote their mayor.

Polling places close at 9pm. To validate the local referendum on the dismissal of the mayoral general of Chisinau municipality, the voter turnout should be at least one third of the voters included in the main electoral registers that total 628 683.