Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission for the Presidential Election in the Republic of Moldova of 1 (15) November 2020: Last details on the conduct of election

15 November 2020
Time: 10:00 p.m.

Promo-LEX Observation Mission of the Presidential Election in the Republic of Moldova of 1 (15) November 2020 informs that as of 10:00 p.m. the Mission had received 574  incident reports from observers, Promo-LEX analytical team processed and classified 403 reports, and this press release contains information on 76 incidents.

For the first round of presidential elections of 1 November 2020, as of 10:00 p.m., the Promo-LEX OM found 520 incidents, of which the 439 were processed by the central team of the Promo-LEX, and the press release at 10:00 p.m. contained information on 73 incidents.

Last details on the conduct of election:

Promo-LEX Observation Mission of the Presidential Election in the Republic of Moldova of 1 (15) November 2020 finds,

Interrupted video recording of electoral procedures for polling station opening or procedures of ballot papers counting – 7 cases.

• PS 1/100 Chisinau, Buiucani. At 09:05 p.m. the camera is well-functioning, but it is not turned on.  PS members did not know how to connect it. The problem was solved.
• PS 1/192, Chisinau, Rascani. There is a technical problem with the camera that does not record the vote counting process. The problem exists since the opening of the polling station, but no measures were taken to fix it.
• PS 32/15 Stefan Voda, Festelita. For technical reasons, it is not possible to shoot on video the vote counting process. PEB Chairperson reported that the camera can not be connected, so he decided to record the vote counting process on the mobile phone of a bureau member.
• PS 32/21 Stefan Voda, Popeasca. A part of the ballot papers is not placed in the camera view, and the process of cancelling the ballot papers is not recorded.
• PS 1/51 Chisinau, Botanica. The camera was not turned to the table were the ballot papers were counted.
• PS 37/3, Transnistrian region, Anenii Noi. The camera was turned off when the votes were counted. The STO reprimanded the PEB Chairperson and turned it on.
• PS 01/180, Chisinau, Ciocana. The camera has been working with interruptions during the recording of the vote counting procedure. The PEB Chairperson informed that this was a technical problem of the camera.

Unjustified presence of unauthorised people inside or within 100 m from the polling station – 7 cases

• PS 37/25 transnistrian region, Dubasari, Cocieri. The President of the Dubăsari district, Grigore Filipov came to the PS with a pre-prepared document, and asked the representative with the right to consultative vote of a candidate within the PS to sign a complaint against PEB. In this one, he claimed that the operators were working slowly. After he signed, the representative called Grigore Filipov and expressed his discontent, as he was embarrassed in front of the PEB members, given that the operators work very hard, as this time the number of voters is double compared to the first round of election.
• PS 37/24 transnistrian region, Dubasari, Cocieri.
• The President of the Dubăsari district, Grigore Filipov came to the PS with a pre-prepared document, and asked the representative with the right to consultative vote of a candidate within the PS to sign a complaint against PEB. In this one, he claimed that the operators were working slowly.
• PS 25/012 Orhei, Orhei. Near the PS, a woman and a man are staying outside more than an hour. We know that the lady is an official from the mayoralty. The observer called the police, but they keep standing in front of the PS.
• PS 1/96 Chisinau, Buiucani. An unknown person entered the PS and told the observers to be careful when counting the votes. He said that if the stamp points the candidate’s square, to cast the vote in his favour.
• PS 07/027, Cahul, Burlaceni. The observer on the part of a contender was present all day in the PS without being accredited. The PEB chairman claimed that he knows that person and, as a result, he did not check the observer’s accreditation.
• PS 1/216, Chisinau, Rascani. There is an unauthorised person in the PS – the guardian of the building. The PEB Chairperson had no claims.
• PS 1/218, Chisinau, Riscani. At 10:00 p.m., in the PS there are unauthorised people (the servant, the guardian, the doorman).

Rumors, attempts or even situations of in-kind or cash rewards offered to voters within the area of 100 m from the polling station in order to influence them – 4 cases.

• PS 37/26 transnistrian region, Dubasari, Cosnita. When discussing with the voters from the transnistrean region, the observer found that at the agricultural market in the village of Cocieri, as well as on the routes Dorotkaia-Grigoriopol and Cosnita- Dubasari (in the village of Derjinsk) there are vans in which voters, when presenting their loose leaf with the stamp ‘voted’, are paid an amount of MDL 400, in different currencies.
• PS 11/15 Cimislia, Batir. A PEB member, Acalugaritei Tatiana, appointed by a candidate, whose table was closest to the voting booth, was observed talking to certain voters before they entered the voting booth. She was overheard by the observer saying the following: ‘Don’t forget that on Friday we drive from the village to the hospital in the city, for an x-ray, and that’s on me.’ The lady’s daughter is an observer appointed by a candidate. The PEB Chairperson was not inside the PS during the incident.
• PS 15/005 Dubasari, Cosnita. Statulat Sergiu, representative/observer of a candidate, promised the voters cash rewards amounting to MDL 400. He was asked by voters when they would receive the money. He told them that after 12 o’clock he would find them in the neighbourhood. When it got dark outside, voters began to receive cash rewards. The PEB Chairperson is a representative of a candidate and did nothing about it.
• Transnistrian region, Hagimus. People from the transnistrian region who wanted to go to vote were registered on a list to be transported. Voters were urged to vote for a candidate (seniors were given the candidate’s name written on paper). According to the information received by the observer, after the voting, the voters were paid 200 rubles each.

Organised voter transportation (by buses, passenger vans or other vehicles that wouldn’t normally be around) – 3 cases.

• PS 37/31 transnistrian region, Dubasari, Ustia. A Hyundai with the registration number No E892BE was transporting in an organised manner voters from the transnistrian region (7 passenger seats). A police officer confirmed to the Promo-LEX observer that according to the records of the customs office, the car crossed the internal customs post at least 3 times. The police drew up a protocol on this instance.
• PS 37/26 transnistrian region, Dubasari, Cosnita. From the STO discussion with voters from the transnistrian region (friends) it was found out that in Dubasari there are 3 buses waiting for voters to be brought to vote. In this context, the President of Dubasari district, Grigore Filipov, insisted that the PEB members request extending the voting time by 2 hours.
• PS 37/13, transnistrian region, Causeni. A minibus with registration number T 194 OC, was observed transporting to PS about  7 – 8 people (mostly young).

Acts of violence or bullying against voters or other persons — 3 case.

• PS 33/27 Taraclia, Valea Perjei. Upon returning to the PS, the PEB members said that they were intimidated by 2 unknown persons, who were travelling in a white Skoda (partial registration number 425), while the PEB members were walking with the mobile ballot box in the locality. Thus, 2 unknown persons (not from the locality), noticing how one of the PEB members helped an elderly person to insert the ballot in the mobile ballot box, started filming the voting process at home, accusing the PEB members of falsifying the elections. They followed the activities of the PEB members with the car for about 5 minutes, after which they left. However, from time to time, they are seen around the PS.
• PS 1/ 266 Chisinau, Vadul lui Voda. Two people entered the PS being drunk. One person did not have the residence/domicile in the PS area, being from another locality. The PEB Chairperson explained the procedure to him, how he could vote legitimately. At the exit of the PS, they met some acquaintances, with whom they started an argument that later turned into a fight. The PEB Chairperson called the police.
• PS 1/199 Chisinau, Rascani. At 5:50 p.m., two persons, who presented themselves as national observers and another as vice-praetors of the Rascani sector, without entering the polling station, discussed with the representative with the right to consultative vote on behalf of a contender. Subsequently, those persons were outraged by the fact that the mobile ballot box did not start from the polling station at ‘due time’ (3:00 p.m.), requesting to talk to the PEB Chairperson. The PEB Chairperson decided that the mobile ballot box should start after 6:00 p.m., having registered 6 requests for voting at home. A conflict arose between these persons and the PEB Chairperson, the latter being intimidated by them. A journalist intervened, after which the mentioned people left the proximity of the polling station.

Presence of advertising materials, electoral billboards and posters in the vicinity of the polling station (within the area of 100 m from the PS) – 1 case.

• PS 01/276, Chisinau, Bubuieci. A candidate’s electoral posters in A4 form are displayed within 80 meters from the PS. According to PEB members, this poster was not noticed in the morning. However, they do not know who and when this electoral poster was displayed.
•  
• Deficient operation of Elections SAIS (suspended functionalities; situations where Elections SAIS showed that the voter had voted, although the latter claimed he had not) – 7 cases.
• PS 37/11, transnistrian region, Anenii Noi, Varnita. In case of one voter, Elections SAIS showed he voted already. Although the stamp ‘Second round of presidential elections’ was not applied on the loose leaf of his ID, the voter was not allowed to vote.
• PS 35/3, Ungheni. At 7:10, one voter was prohibited to vote because it was found he voted at the PS from the Republican Hospital in Chisinau municipality. The stamp confirming that he voted was not applied on the loose leaf of his ID. At 7:40, after CEC got involved, the case was documented and it was found that an error occurred. The voter had the opportunity to vote.
• PS 36/18, ATUG, Ceadir Lunga. At 6:35 p.m., one voter was prohibited to vote because according to Elections SAIS he voted in the Russian Federation, Lipetk. The identification document of the voter was checked and the stamp confirming that he voted was not identified. PEB members drafted a fact-finding report, discussed with the superior election bodies and in the end, didn’t allow the voter to vote.
• PS 18/026, Floresti, Cunicea. Starting with the opening of the PS and until 8:55 p.m., the voters who voted were included on the lists of voters, but according to SAIS they were assigned to another PS. About 22 voters got in this situation. The observer reported the problem, but the Chairperson allowed them to vote.
• PS 01/098, Chisinau, Buiucani. Between 7:10 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., SAIS Election was out of order because the lack of internet connection.
• PS 01/274, Chisinau, Bacioi. According to PEB Chairperson, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., SAIS Elections was out of order because it did not have internet connection (provided by Moldtelecom). The operators wrote the information on paper and later they introduced it into the program.
• PS 06/011 Briceni, Bogdanesti. According to PEB Chairperson, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., SAIS Elections was out of order because it did not have internet connection (provided by Moldtelecom). The operators wrote the information on paper and later they introduced it into the program.

Deficiencies in lists of voters (gaps between addresses; deceased voters; signatures instead of other people) – 1 case.

• PS 1/297, Chisinau, Truseni. At 6:05 p.m. it was found that according to the list of voters, one voter is domiciled at an address he never lived at. The PEB Chairperson included the voter on the additional list.

Taking pictures of the ballot papers, other violations of the secret ballot (submission of ID card on the basis of which the voter had already voted, inappropriate laying out of booths because of which one could see who other voters cast their vote for) – 15 cases.

• PS 23/031 Nisporeni, Seliste. One voter took a picture of the ballot paper using the lightening of the telephone. The observers warned her and she deleted the picture.
• PS 37/21 transnistrian region, Causeni, Hagimus. A voter took a picture of his ballot paper. The picture was deleted.
• PS 4/25, Anenii Noi, Hirbovat. A voter took a picture of his ballot paper. The picture was not deleted.
• PS 13/5, Donduseni, Baraboi. One voter tried to take a picture of the ballot paper. After the intervention of the PEB Chairperson, his attempt failed.
• PS 33/1, Taraclia. At 7:37 p.m. a voter took a picture of the ballot paper. The PEB Chairperson asked him to show the phone and delete the picture.
• PS 12/9, Criuleni, Boscana, Mardareuca. A voter took a picture of his ballot paper. The picture was not deleted.
• PS 1/154, Chisinau, Rascani. A voter took a picture of the ballot paper. When the PEB asked her to delete the picture she opposed because she needed to show it to her friends.  In the end the picture was deleted.
• PS 1/130, Chisinau, Center. At 4:10 p.m. one voter took a picture of the ballot paper. The PEB Chairperson did not do anything about it.
• PS 1/100 Chisinau, Buiucani. At 6:20 p.m. one voter took a picture of the ballot paper. The PEB Chairperson did not do anything about it.
• PS 1/56 Chisinau, Botanica.  At 6:29 p.m. one voter took a picture of the ballot paper. When the PS Chairperson asked him to delete the picture, he refused, but after a two-minute discussion, the picture was deleted.
• PS 1/241, Chisinau, Rascani. At 8:05 p.m. one voter took a picture of the ballot paper. The picture was deleted in front of the observers and of the Chairperson.
• PS 1/91 Chisinau, Buiucani. At 8:29 p.m. a voter started a video call in the voting booth during which he possibly proved who he voted for.
• PS 37/21 transnistrian region. Two cases of ballot paper being photographed were registered. The PEB Chairperson was notified by the observer of a candidate, but the picture was not deleted and the voters left the PS.
• PS 01/276, Chisinau, Bubuieci. The voting booths inside the PS were incorrectly located – one next to another. The PEB Chairperson and other voters who were within 1.5 m could notice for whom the voter voted, which violated the secret ballot.
• PS 07/027, Cahul, Burlaceni.  One voter took a picture of the ballot paper while his child applied the stamp ‘Voted’. The PEB members asked the voter to delete the picture but the voter didn’t comply and left the PS.

Failure to observe COVID-19 protection and prevention measures – 1 case.

• PS 06/018 Briceni, Corjeuti. PEB members do not comply with COVID-19 protection rules (do not wear masks and face shields).

Ballot boxes were not sealed according to the legal procedures/tearing/damage or absence of seals on ballot boxes — 2 cases.

• PS 06/018 Briceni, Corjeuti. One of the three stationary ballot boxes was not sealed. PEB members said the seals were not enough.
• PS 01/098, Chisinau, Buiucani. The ballot boxes were sealed only with 3 seals each. The PEB Chairperson explained that they used all the seals rceived from CEC.

Electricity outages – 1 case.

• PS 37/30 transnistrian region, Dubasari, Molovata Noua. There were 3 electricity outages for 3-5 minutes during the day. The process was not interrupted.

Vote tabulation issues – 3 cases

• PS 7/8 Cahul, Cahul. The PEB members started the cancelation of the unused ballot papers at 7:35 p.m.
• PS 25/45 Orhei, Malaiesti. At around 21:50, the electricity went out during the vote tabulation. The cause is unknown.
• PS 37/3, Transnistrian region, Anenii Noi. The vote tabulation was not performed according to the procedure, each ballot paper was not presented separately. The votes were counted and the results were announced.

Problematic aspects related to voting by mobile ballot box – 7 cases.

• PS 15/005 Dubasari, Cosnita. With regard to the mobile ballot box voting, at least 2 voters declared they voted at the PS, although they initially requested the mobile ballot box.  The Chairperson said he is not aware of this. The information was provided by the inhabitants.
• PS 15/014 Dubasari, Ustia. The discussions with particular voters from Ustia village who are hospitalized at Covid department in Criuleni district hospital, we found out they had no possibility to vote with mobile ballot box because the doctors prohibited it, mentioning that no mobile ballot box is allowed in the COVID department.
• PS 9/8 Calarasi. The mobile ballot box reached the polling station at 9:15 p.m.
• PS 1/142, Chisinau, Center. During the mobile ballot box voting a voter declared the voted already at the polling station and she did not request the voting at the place of stay. The request for voting at the place of stay was filed by the social worker. PEB drawn a Fact-Finding Report at 8:00 p.m.
• PS 1/142, Chisinau, Center. On the day before the election, both a social worker (12:10 a.m.) and a person who has presented herself as a granddaughter and showed a credentials related to an organisation under the President of the Republic of Moldova (5:10 p.m.) filed 2 requests for voting at the place of stay for the same people. Initially, all requests were accepted, and when their duplicates were found, the last requests were canceled. PEB drawn a Fact-Finding Report at 8:00 p.m. by which was concluded that the signatures on the requests for voting at the place of stay are different, and therefore were falsified.
• PS 1/213, Chisinau, Rascani. A voter come too the polling station and found out from the PEB members that her request for voting at the place of stay was canceled because it was filed incorrectly and the signatures were not matching. Further they found out that the request was filed by an electioneerer. At least 15 requests out of 30 were canceled in total on the grounds that people did not request the mobile ballot box voting, the handwriting from the request and the signature did not match, or the representatives of a candidate filed the request for voting at the place of stay. A decision or a minute was drawn with regard to the cancelation of the request for voting at the place of stay.
• PS 36/024 Gagauzia ATU, Vulcanesti. Two voters (husband and wife) requested for voting at the place of stay. The wife requested ballot papers for herself and for husband, arguing that he is in another room. The wife voted for both of them. When arrived at the PS, the operators introduced the data in the Elections SAIS and found out that the husband has already voted. The later was hospitalized in Chisinau. PEB members wrote an explanation, the police was invited to the PS.

Other – 4 cases

• PS 35/9, Ungheni.  At 7:40 p.m., PEB members identified a voter who tried to vote repeatedly using the sister’s ID card. She was recognised by PEB members although she changed her clothes and was wearing a mask. She was prohibited to vote and was asked to leave the PS. Subsequently, the PEB Chairperson notified the police about this case.
• PS 32/33 Stefan Voda, Volintiri. The PEB members took a stamp ‘VOTED’ (from a voting booth) when left with the mobile ballot box. When they come back at 8:20 p.m., the stamp was not returned to the voting booth.
• PS 07/019, Cahul, Andrusul de Sus The extension chord supplying the video camera burnt and for this reason the electricity went out. In this period the electricity went out in the PS and the voting process was, respectively, interrupted for 5 minutes.
• PS 33/032, Taraclia, Vinogradovca. The voting booth for people with disabilities is missing in the PS.

The press release is developed as part of the Observation Mission for the Elections of the President of the Republic of Moldova on 1 November 2020 and is conducted by Promo-LEX Association with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) via the ‘Democracy, Transparency and Accountability’ Program, the Good Governance Department of Soros Foundation-Moldova under ‘Monitoring the Presidential Elections of 1 November 2020’ Project, and the Council of Europe under ‘Support for civic observation of 2020 Presidential Election in polling stations abroad’. ‘Hate speech’ component is supported by Justice and Human Rights Department of Soros Foundation-Moldova under ‘Consolidation of a platform for the development of activism and education in the area of human rights in Moldova – stage IV’ Project.

The opinions set out in the public reports and press releases of Promo-LEX OM are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of funders or partners. The content of this document can be subject to editing.

If there are any discrepancies between the text in Romanian and its translation, the provisions formulated in Romanian shall prevail.

For more information, please contact: Inga Stegarescu, Press Officer of Promo-LEX Association GSM: 069 26 96 84; E-mail: [email protected]