The Central Election Commission (CEC) received applications from Moldovan citizens who settled in Saint Petersburg and Moscow, asking opening additional polling places in these cities, but most of these applications have less than 30 signatures included in them, the Commission’s vice president Stefan Uratu said in the program “Without myths” produced in the studio of the Chisinau newspaper “Panorama”, IPN reports.

Stefan Uratu said that under the Election Code, polling places can be established in settlements where 30 – 3,000 voters live closely.

“The people can express their wish to vote, but we must also negotiate the procedure for opening polling places with the host country,” explained the CEC vice president, saying that additional financing can be asked from the state, if necessary, because the right to vote is very important.

Stefan Uratu said that up to five polling places were set up in Russia the previous years and this number was sufficient. But even 200 polling places can be established in this country if more applications come from voters.

He confirmed that the authorities intend to open 100 polling places abroad for the November 30 legislative elections.  

“For the time being, we do not know the exact figure for each country and it is important for the voters to register preliminarily on the website alegator.md so that the CEC could determine in what country there is the largest number of Moldovans,” said Stefan Uratu. He added that when Russia suggests opening 200 polling places in this country, the problem of security and possible frauds should be raised as Moldova, for instance, cannot hold elections in the Transnistrian region, which is controlled by Russia.