Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the general local and new parliamentary elections of October 20, 2019: New details on the elections

October 20, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m.

The Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the general local and new parliamentary elections of October 20, 2019 informs that from the total of 321 incident reports, reported by Promo-LEX observers by 6.30 p.m., 279 were processed by the central team of the Promo-LEX Mission of which 104 incidents are included in this press release:

Intimidation of Promo-LEX observers – 2 cases

DEC Soroca, 29. Promo-LEX observer, Vrabia Natalia, is intimidated and psychologically pressured by Zabrian Stela, president of DEC Soroca, as well as by Ursu Veaceslav, vice-president of the same DEC, on the grounds that the observer objectively reflected the activity of DEC Soroca during the electoral campaign.

PS 1/273 Chisinau, Singera. The Promo-LEX observer was intimidated and threatened by another observer, representing a competitor’s interests.

Presence of advertising materials, posters, electoral displays within the precinct (100 meters from the polling station)- 11 cases.

PS 14/6 Drochia. An A3 poster and two advertising posters have been seen within the precinct of the PS.
PS 13/6 Donduseni, Briceni. An A3 poster with political advertising is stuck on the pillar within 30 meters from the PS.
PS 32/16. Ștefan Voda, Marianovca. On the display at the entrance to the PS, there are two posters of a candidate.
PS 7/52 Cahul. Electoral posters placed on pillars within 100 m of the polling station.
PS 20/4, Hincesti. A candidate’s billboard has been noticed within the 100 m of the polling station.
PS 20/3, Hincesti, Billboards of two competitors have been noticed within 100 m of the polling station.
PS 20/14. Floresti, Caaunca. The observer found 2 electoral posters for two competitors placed within 30 m of the PS.
PS 1/297 Chisinau, Singera. An electoral banner is placed at a distance of 60-70 m from the PS. The observer announced the PEB president, after which the president announced the police. The candidate concerned arrived. Until now, the banner has not been removed.
PS 1/311, Chisinau, Ghidighici. An electoral poster (A4) was seen on a pillar at a distance of 90 meters from the PS. An observer notified the PEB president, and at 13.30, the electoral poster was taken away by a policeman.
PS 14/04 Drochia, Drochia. A flyer was stuck on a pillar, which is located between two PSs close to each other.
PS 20/14 Hincesti, Buteni. Electoral posters were seen within the distance of 30 m2 of the PS. The PEB president did not react.

Electoral/ negative campaigning to influence the choice of voters – 12 cases

PS 1/262 Chisinau, Durlesti. According to the observer, an independent candidate was at the entrance of a (food store), located 40 meters away from the PS and was carrying out electoral campaigning. The person was in that place for 20-30 minutes.
PS 32/16 Stefan Voda, Marianovca. A billboard and three posters are placed at the entrance to the PS.
PS 2/49, Balti. A candidate for the position of councilor was discussing with voters in the immediate vicinity of the PS. Neither the PEB president nor the policeman reported this fact and no measures were taken in this respect.
PS 2/51, Balti. A voter, being in the polling booth, was making electoral campaigning for a competitor and insisted that another voter (in the neighboring booth) should vote specifically for that candidate. The PEB president, approached the voter and tried to settle the incident, explaining to him that he has no right to engage in electoral campaigning. The voter, however, refused to comply with the requirements. Later, he left the polling station shouting “МАФИЯ НЕ ВЫИГРАЕТ” (MAFIA WILL NOT WIN).
PS 1/273 Chisinau, Singera. A candidate to the position of mayor was carrying out electoral campaigning activities at a distance of 75 meters from the PS. The person left, seeing that the observer took a picture of him.
PS 1/269 Chisinau, Singera. A candidate was carrying out electoral campaigning for about 30 minutes at a distance of 90 meters from the PS. He was later replaced by another candidate, who remained to do the same job.
PS 1/269 Chisinau, Singera. A candidate was moving around the precinct of the PS, making electoral campaigning. This took place between 11.30-14.30
PS 9/29 Calarasi, Paulesti. In front of the polling station, there were a few people and they were campaigning in favor of a Being reprimanded, the people moved away, but they continued to make electoral campaigning in the village. The campaigning is carried out by involving people in discussions, without any electoral material.
PS 1/221 Chisinau, Riscani Dist. A voter, after voting, approached the observers and started a discussion about the elections, stating for whom he voted. None of the PEB members reprimanded him and after 5-7 minutes, he left the polling station.
PS 25/13 Orhei, Orhei. Within 100 m of the PS, there were 8 people, who for about two hours, made electoral campaigning for a competitor. The police officer and the PEB president warned them that they have no right to campaign.
PS 01/299 Chisinau, Stauceni. The observer found that after voting, a voter dropped a piece of paper, stating what candidate to vote for.
PS 28/7 Singerei, Alexandreni. Electoral campaigning for a candidate near the PS.

Rumors, attempts or even cases of material or monetary rewards offered to voters to influence their choice – 3 cases

PS 1/287, Chisinau, Bubuieci. The observer witnessed a situation, where a person driving a Toyota car, reg. no. CRS 474 and an observer (not identified by whom it was accredited) offered money to a voter (about 1000 lei) with the exclamation “Держи зарплату!” (Here’s your Salary!) It is not clear for what services the money was provided.
PS 1/272 Chisinau, Singera. There is a bar at a distance of about 15-20 m from the PS, the voters, after voting, stopped there and discussed about the elections. Two people were present there permanently.
PS 11/46 Cimislia, Valea Perjei. Two voters have stated that they will receive 200 lei for voting for a certain candidate. It is rumored that if the voters manage to take pictures, they receive 400 lei. The PEB said he did not believe the rumors.

Organized transportation of voters (coaches, minibuses or other units of transportation that normally would not be around the PS)- 3 cases

PS 1/272 Chisinau, Singera. A Niva, reg. no. CPL-709, has several times (about 2-3 times) transported people to the PS. Most of the people brought to the PS were elderly or with special needs.
PS 32/24, Stefan Voda, Slobozia. An Audi with Italian registration numbers BC950KN brings voters to the PS, it stops at a distance of 200 meters from the PS, one of the voters was drunk.
PS 21/06 Ialoveni, Ialoveni. A citizen was seen transporting people and accompanying them up to PS. The PEB president was announced and discussed with him, he motivated his acts by the fact that he was helping the people in the neighborhood.

Unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the PS or within 100 m of it – 6 cases.

PS 7/43 Cahul, Iujnoe. The candidate for the mayoral position was in the PS for 10 minutes. He had tea with the observers. At the president’s remark, the mayoral candidate left the polling station.
PS 01/278 Chisinau, Vatra. After exercising her right to vote, the LPA secretary stayed in the PS for about 15 min. After that she was within the precinct for 30-45 minutes at a distance of less than 50 meters and was doing electoral campaigning. She left after being notified by the PEB president.
PS 34/03 Telenesti, Telenesti. Councilor candidates from two competitors stayed for about 3 hours within 50 m from the polling station and discussed with each voter. The PEB president did not react to this incident.
PS 15/24 Dubasari, Cosnita. Having voted, the voters stay in the PS, they are discussing and the PS gets crowded. Some voters, after leaving the PS, return and this leads to agglomerations. PEB members display no reaction.
PS 25/07 Orhei, Orhei. An unauthorized person, representing one of the competitors, entered the PS and without presenting himself, started to film the PS. Being requested by the PEB president to interrupt the filming process and to present himself, the person behaved inappropriately. The case is taken over by the police.
PS 34/2 Telenesti. Unauthorized persons are within 100 m from the PS for a minimum of 4 hours, they have been seen from 13.30 to 17.30.

Acts of violence or intimidation of voters, or other persons – 6 cases

PS 1/69, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. A voter has aggressively behaved in the PS. He verbally intimidated the president of the PEB. The reason for the conflict was the voter’s impression that the PEB members had told something about him. The PEB members tried to settle the conflict, after which the voter left.
PS 1/54, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. An observer of a competitor argued with another observer, both using strong words. The reason for the conflict was the fact that one of them was listening to music on the phone, and this disturbed the other. Following the involvement of the PEB president, the conflict was resolved.
PS 1/31, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. A voter with an expired residence visa wanted to vote. When the PEB president did not allow him to vote, he displayed an aggressive behavior, disrupting the activity of the PEB. After the president threatened to call the police, the voter left.
PS 11/46 Cimislia, Valea Perjei. A group of voters did not allow an independent candidate to enter the polling station because they were not satisfied with his activity. After the intervention of 3 police crews, the candidate entered the polling station.
PS 01/260 Chisinau, Cricova. An elderly voter, after receiving the ballots, asked to vote with his wife claiming poor eyesight. His wife mentioned that he has no visual impairments and the PEB president forbade group voting. The man started threatening and cursing PEB members. Having voted, he publicly declared for whom he voted and left the PS.
PS 01/187 Chisinau, Ciocana Dist. A possibly drugged person entered the PS and began to conflict with the PEB members. He then asked the president for help in applying the stamp.

Unjustified group voting (there are two and more people in the voting booths) – 9 cases

PS 1/74, Chisinau, Buiucani Dist. Two voters – husband and wife – came to vote. They received the ballots, but the woman took all of the ballots and went with them to the voting booth, she applied the stamp on all the ballots received (including her husband’s). The reason claimed was that her husband was blind.
PS 15/9, Dubasari, Molovata. Two people entered the voting booth together, it was seen that one of them was showing something to the other.
PS 1/59, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. Father and son entered the voting booth together. After entering the voting booth, the son insisted that his father vote for a specific candidate. When the PEB members notified the voters of their behavior, the son began to swear.
PS 2/30, Balti. Two voters voted in the same voting booth. The PEB president did not notice this fact and did not take any measures to avoid the incident.
PS 1/154, Chisinau, Center Dist. A PEB member pointed to an old woman where she had to apply the stamp, being in the voting booth.
PS 1/154, Chisinau, Center Dist. One of the PEB members entered the voting booth together with the voter, indicating who to vote for.
PS 9/40 Cimislia, Sipoteni. Two people entered the same voting booth and consulted each other, and then they voted. The PEB members did not notice this.
PS 01/177, Chisinau, Ciocana Dist. Two people (husband and wife) entered the PS. The man said he was visually challenged and his wife voted for both of them.
PS 18/35 Floresti. Gura Cainarului. A candidate for mayor’s office came to the PS with his mother and a voter indicating them who to vote for.

Deficiencies in the functioning of SIAS Elections system (suspension of operation; situations when SIAS Elections system indicates that the voter voted, and he claims that he did not vote) – 7 cases.

PS 1/256, Chisinau, Codru. SIAS elections stopped working for about 7 minutes, during which the voters did not vote. As a result, a line has been formed in the PS.
PS 1/140, Chisinau, Center Dist. In the case of a voter, the number of his ID did not correspond with the one in SIAS Elections system, while the first and last name, including the personal ID code were identical (he changed the identity card). The PEB allowed him to vote.
PS 26/02 Rezina, Rezina. The voter’s name was on the voters’ list, according to the identity document, the domicile was established in the respective constituency, but the person was not found in SIAS Elections. That person voted on the supplementary lists.
PS 01/261 Chisinau, Cricova. The voter could not be found in the SIAS Elections database, but his residence visa fell within the respective PS. The voter was included in the supplementary list.
PS 01/275 Chisinau, Vadul lui Voda. The voter was not found in the voters’ lists and in the SIAS Elections database, he was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 2/21, Balti. A voter was not found in the main voters’ lists, nor in the SIAS Elections, but his residence visa was in the respective precinct. The PEB president directed him to the APS, to bring a confirmation of his residence. Later, the person returned without a confirmation, stating that the APS officials verbally confirmed that the residence is correctly established. The PEB president decided not to allow the voter to vote on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/12, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. In the case of a voter, in SIAS Elections it was recorded that the voter has already voted, but he declared that he did not vote, proving that he does not have the stamp on the identity card. The voter was allowed to vote.

Deficiencies in the voters’ lists (discrepancies between addresses; deceased voters on the lists; signatures affixed by other people) – 20 cases.

PS 01/192 Chisinau, Ciocana. A voter was not found in the voters’ lists, although the address in the ID corresponds to the PS. The voter was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 18/58 Floresti, Sanatauca. The candidate for the mayoral office registered 4 persons with temporary residence visa on October 14 or 15, 2019 and today, they voted on supplementary lists.
PS 1/56, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. In the case of a voter, according to the data from SIAS Elections, the address did not correspond to the voters’ address in the ID. The PEB members checked the main lists and did not find the person, they suggested the voter to go to the PS where he is assigned to according to the data from SIAS Elections. As a result, although based on the data in the identity card the voter had to vote in the PS 1/56, he was directed to another PS.
PS 2/27, Balti. A voter was not found in the main voters’ lists. He voted on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/39, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. A voter identified in the main voters’ list an unknown person registered at his home address. He mentioned that in every election, he faces the situation when different foreign persons are registered at his home address. The PEB president could not comment on the situation and had no reaction.
PS 1/136, Chisinau, Center Dist. A voter has found known deceased persons on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/74, Chisinau, Buiucani Dist. A PEB member incorrectly showed the voter where to sign. As a result, he signed in place of another person, not being informed about it.
PS 1/258, Chisinau, Codru. A voter was not included in the main voters’ lists, being included in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/139, Chisinau, Center Dist. A voter noted that another voter had already signed in the space intended for his signature (next to his name).
PS 1/136, Chisinau, Center Dist. A PEB member wrongly indicated to the voter the space in which he had to sign.
PS 2/29, Balti. A voter was neither in the main voters’ list nor in the SIAS Elections, although according to his identity card, his domicile was established in the precinct of the PS. The voter was not allowed to vote on the supplementary lists.
PS 1/131, Chisinau, Center Dist. A voter identified a foreign person with a residence visa in his apartment. He mentioned that the person had lived in the apartment for a long time. The voter also went to the PSA to exclude all foreign persons from his apartment, but the name still appeared in the voters’ lists.

PS 7/7 Cahul. The voters’ lists with the voters that are in the hospital arrived at the PEB at around 12 o’clock. The president did not have a reaction.

PS 1/217 Chisinau, Riscani Dist. The voter found the presence of a deceased person on the voters’ lists.
PS 1/232 Chisinau, Riscani Dist. The voter was not included in the voters’ lists nor in the SIAS database and was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 01/192 Chisinau, Ciocana Dist. The voter could not be found on the voters’ lists, but his residence visa corresponds to the PS. He was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 01/275 Chisinau, Vadul lui Voda. The voter was not included in the main lists and was included in the supplementary list.
PS 1/222 Chisinau, Riscani Dist. The voter was not included in the voters’ lists nor in the SIAS database, he was included in the supplementary lists.
PS 1/213 Chisinau, Riscani Dist. A voter found her sister on the voters’ lists, although she had died 5 years ago. The PEB president made a note next to the name so no one could not sign in her place.
18/1 Floresti, Marculești. Between October 16 and 17, 2019, 16 people (with temporary residence visa) were registered. The given activity is in the interest of a party candidate.

Photographing of the ballot papers, other violations of the secret of voting (display of the ballot with the vote cast, misplacement of the voting booths that makes it possible to see the voter’s option, etc.) – 7 cases

PS 4/20 Anenii Noi, Delacau. A voter photographed the ballot in the voting booth. The PEB president reprimanded the voter.
PS 1/213 Chisinau, Riscani Dist. A voter twice photographed the ballot. This was not observed by the PEB members.
PS 1/132, Chisinau, Center Dist. A voter photographed the ballot. The PEB president asked for the pictures to be deleted, but the voter refused, leaving the PS.
PS 1/22, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. The voting booth is set up in such a way that the president of the PEB can see the voting process and the voter’s choice. The PEB members have no reaction.
PS 1/22, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. A PEB member entered the voting booth while a voter was there.
PS 23/04 Nisporeni, Nisporeni. The voter took pictures in the voting booth. After he voted, the PEB president said that it was forbidden to photograph the ballots, to which the person replied that he had taken pictures for himself. He later left the PS.
PS 01/299 Chisinau, Stauceni. A voter photographed the ballot. An observer saw this and notified the PEB president, as a result, the president canceled the ballot and prohibited the given person from voting repeatedly.
PS 4/26 Anenii Noi, Hirbovat. The voting booths are placed inappropriately, without much effort, one can see the voting options. Party observers can see it too. A competitor’s observer is walking behind the voting booths.

Non-compliant use of ballot papers – 6 cases

PS 18/67. Floresti, Varvareuca. It is rumored that someone did not put a ballot into the ballot box, but took it with him, the PEB president is aware of the fact, he said that the counting will reveal if anything is missing.
PS 2/33, Balti. An empty ballot was identified in the voting booth. The PEB president canceled it.
PS 1/17, Chisinau Botanica Dist. A voter forgot a ballot paper on the desk, without applying the “VOTED” stamp on it. When he left the PS, the PEB members noticed the ballot, called the observers to decide what to do with it. As a result, it was decided to place it in the ballot box, so that the it would be canceled at the counting stage.
PS 4/25 Anenii Noi, Hirbovat. A voter noticed a voted ballot in the voting booth. The president took it and introduced it into the ballot box.
PS 35/03 Ungheni, Ungheni. A voter, after receiving the ballot, tore it in front of PEB members. After that, the PEB members called the police. The police are trying to solve the case. So far, no protocols have been drafted on the case.
PS 1/43, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. A voter took a ballot paper and left, without throwing it in the ballot box. When it was noticed, the PEB members went after him, took the ballot paper and put it into the ballot box.

The ballot boxes have not been sealed in compliance with the legal procedures / breaken / damaged or absence of seals on the ballot boxes – 4 cases.

PS 48/6, Anenii Noi. There are 2 stationary boxes in the PS. The first box is regularly sealed and is placed over the second one that is unsealed (used as a support for the first one).
PS 4/23 Anenii Noi, Geamana. 3 out of 4 ballot boxes are unsealed.
PS 4/26 Anenii Noi, Hirbovat. Out of 2 stationary boxes, only one was sealed.
PS 4/6 Anenii Noi. The second (additional) stationary box is not sealed throughout the day.

Others – 8 cases

PS 1/56, Chisinau, Botanica Dist. A voter approached the PS and demanded that a mobile box be sent to his place (for an elderly relative). The PEB president refused, claiming that no application was made in this regard. The voter argued that he submitted such a request to the PEB on Friday – a thing denied by the members of the bureau. In addition, the president mentioned that last year, he had problems when voting at home. The voter said he would file a complaint.
PS 1/152, Chisinau, Center Dist. A voter was registered in SIAS Elections without having the accompanying sheet of the ID. The PEB president did not allow him to vote, asking him to go and make a provisional sheet to vote since his data were introduced into the SIAS Elections.
PS 2/18, Balti. A voter presented the identity card to the PEB members, was registered in the SIAS Elections, but was not allowed to vote because he did not have the accompanying sheet of the ID.
PS 1/239 Chisinau, Riscani Dist. A voter was included in the “Voted” list of the SIAS Elections database, without checking the presence of accompanying sheet. Later the PEB members forbade him to vote because he did not have the accompanying sheet.
PS 01/275 Chisinau, Vadul lui Voda. At 13.00, the president of the PS 275 found that they also have ballots referred to the PS 274. He assumed that they could also be placed in the ballot box. The ballots that were assigned to the wrong PS were canceled. He said that if they found the wrong ballot papers, he would not cancel them because it would violate the voting rights of the voters.
PS 31/32 Soldanesti, Vadul Rascov. In the morning, the PS received 37 applications for voting at one’s domicile. Until 3 pm, another 4 applications were submitted, without being accompanied by medical certificates, as claimed by the PEB president. 41 ballots were taken together with the mobile ballot box. The PEB president did not comment on this circumstance.
PS 01/174 Chisinau, Ciocana Dist. A voter approached the observer and said she was called from an unknown number and instructed to vote for a competitor.
PS 1/154, Chisinau, Center Dist. PEB members received, until 3:00 pm today, 3 requests to vote at the place of domicile (with the mobile ballot box), without submitting any medical certificates. The applications were submitted by the relatives of the applicants.

The press release is made as part of the Observation Mission for the general local and new parliamentary elections of October 20, 2019 by the Promo-LEX Association with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the “Democracy, Transparency and Accountability” Program.

The opinions expressed in the public reports and press releases of the Promo-LEX OM belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the point of view of the funders or partners. The content of this document may be subject to editorial review.

For more details, please contact:

Inga Stegarescu, Communication Officer of the Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the general local and new parliamentary elections of October 20, 2019. GSM 069269684, e-mail: [email protected]