Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the parliamentary elections of 28 September 2025: Opening of polling stations 

28 September 2025
Time: 9:30 

The Promo-LEX Observation Mission of the parliamentary elections of 28 September 2025 notes that, by 8:40, the central team processed 73 cases with incident status, of which this press release includes 40 confirmed incidents.  

Methodological aspects of observation  

For Election Day, the Promo-LEX OM delegated one short-term observer (STO) to 409 polling stations (PSs), selected on the basis of a sample established by a sociological company. In addition, a static observer is assigned to all 12 polling stations where voters from the Transnistrian region will exercise their right to vote.  Special attention will be paid to polling stations abroad, where 129 static observers were delegated.

In addition to static observers, the Promo-LEX OM has deployed 191 mobile teams to monitor the electoral process in polling stations that are not included in the sample. The mobile teams will also observe the access ways to the PSs intended for voters from the Transnistrian region.

According to observers, out of a total of 627 sections monitored at the opening, 93 were opened a little earlier or after 7:00.  At the opening of PSs, 6 cases were reported in 627 PSs in which at least one operator was missing. In 14 cases in 627 PSs, the video camera did not record the procedures for preparing the PSs for opening.

At the same time, the solemnity of opening the polling station by playing the anthem and displaying the state flag was not ensured in at least 58 sections. The legal provisions regarding the sealing of ballot boxes were not observed in 8 cases. Please note that stationary ballot boxes must be sealed with 4 seals to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

The most Promo-LEX observers rated the performance of PEB members in the opening process as good and very good. The PEB members were cooperative and provided the information requested in all cases.

Promo-LEX has made available to voters several quick ways of communication, if they notice certain irregularities related to the electoral process.  

You can contact us by e-mail at [email protected] and by phone at 060 14 55 10. This number is also valid for Telegram, Whatsapp and Viber. 

 See the presentation here.

Incidents reported at the opening of polling stations:  

Incidents related to the failure to ensure order in the polling station and within 100 m around  

Presence of advertising materials, posters, electoral boards within the radius of the polling station (100 meters from the station) – 3 cases. We remind you that the responsibility to remove advertising materials lies with the LPAs. This measure aims to protect voters from outside influences when casting their ballot papers.

1. PS 30/22 Straseni. On the information panel located near the polling station in Lozova, Straseni district, two posters of an electoral competitor remained. After the Observer’s notification, the PEB president asked one of his colleagues to remove them, but 30 minutes after the finding they had not yet been removed.
2. PS 25/22 Orhei. At a distance of less than 100 m from PS, it was noticed that the billboard used in the campaign was not removed at the headquarters of an electoral competitor. The PEB president notified the police.
3. PS 21/45 Ialoveni, Ulmu. At 06:35, on the information board of the city hall, located about 20 meters from the entrance to the PS, a leaflet of an electoral competitor was noticed. After being informed, the PEB president removed the leaflet.

Unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the polling station or within 100 m – 10 cases. This prohibition is aimed at ensuring the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, without any influence.

1. PS 07/50 Cahul, Pascani. Between 06:54 and 06:59, an unauthorized person was found inside the PS. When the PEB president objected, she left the PS.
2. PS 01/059 Chisinau, Botanica. In the PS from 06:45 until 07:20, there was a person who was not a PEB member, but also had no badge and who communicated with the PEB president. When the observer asked, the PEB president said that he was a driver and helped with printing the necessary materials for the PEB activity and their delivery. At 7:20, the individual left the PS.
3. PS 08/44 Cantemir, Vilcele. An unauthorized person was observed inside the PS. According to information obtained by Promo-LEX observers, this was a person close to the PEB President.
4. PS 01/157 Chisinau, Ciocana. Near the polling station, within 100 m, at 7:30, the Promo-LEX observer noticed an unauthorized person who has been outside the PS for an hour. When asked if he was politically affiliated or a supporter of a party, he said only that he was from the Transport Directorate.
5. PS 01/100 Chisinau, Buiucani. At 07:00, when the PS opened, unauthorized persons were present: the security guard of the institution and a man whom the PEB president presented as a driver. The PEB president did not react.
6. PS 01/250 Chisinau, Riscani. At 07:20, it was found that a representative of the hospital, in which premises the PS is located, spent a long time in the PS.
7. PS 38/094 Athens, Hellenic Republic. At 7:50, a person presented himself as a representative of an electoral competitor and tried to gain access to the PS. The PEB president explained that he was not properly authorized and the person was waiting outside the PS.
8. PS 38/237 Iasi, Romania. At 7:25, a representative of an electoral competitor entered the polling station. The PEB president checked the person’s documents and found that this representative was not registered or authorized properly.
9. PS 38/068 Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany. At 6:43, two persons presented themselves as representatives of an electoral competitor, but they did not have the necessary documents to legitimize themselves in this regard. They said they would seek the decision of the electoral body demonstrating confirmation.
10. PS 38/094 Athens, Hellenic Republic. At 7:10, the observer noticed the presence of an unauthorized person inside the PS. This person had a degree of kinship / affinity with the representative of an electoral competitor. The PEB president was informed and intervened, having asked her to leave the PS, and the person complied.

Violations of the secrecy of voting (photographing / filming the ballot papers; displaying the ballot paper with the expressed vote; improper location of the voting booths that allow viewing the voter’s option, failure to ensure the conditions for assisted voting, etc.) – 8 cases. Voters are not allowed to take pictures of the completed ballot, show the ballot, and placing them in the ballot box must be carried out in a way that the voting option is not visible.

1. PS 02/53 Balti. At 6:20, voting booths were located with their backs to the stairs that voters were climbing, so anyone could observe the voters’ choice.
2. PS 08/44 Cantemir, Vilcele. At 07:01, improper positioning of the voting booths was observed so that other persons could be behind the voting booths. The observer informed the PEB president and he changed the position of the voting booths.
3. PS 01/147 Chisinau, Centru. The observer found the photographing of the ballot paper in the voting booth, which was observed by one of the PEB members. The PEB member notified the PEB president, and she warned the voter and urged him to delete the photo. The voter deleted the photo (the PEB member followed the deletion of the photo by the voter).
4. PS 7/12 Cahul. At 06:40, it was identified that a video surveillance camera, installed in the building where the voting takes place, was capturing a voting booth, intended for voters with visual disabilities. The PEB president was notified. The camera lens was covered with an adhesive paper.
5. PS 26/34 Rezina, Saharna. At 07:30, it was found that the representative of an electoral competitor was present in the PS and he made notes with the names of the voters who voted.
6. PS 01/95 Chisinau, Buiucani. At 07:01, it was found that voting booths were located near the window and the voter’s option could be seen from outside through the window. The PEB president did not react.
7. PS 38/232 Bucharest, Romania. At 7:21 am, a voter, who was also the representative of an electoral competitor, was observed photographing the ballot paper. At the request of the PEB president, the person deleted the photo.
8. PS 38/094 Athens, Hellenic Republic. At 7:20 am, seats for representatives and observers were placed too close to a voting booth. After the notification of the PEB president, the seats were relocated properly.

Filming of the voting process by representatives of competitors – 1 case 

1. PS 38/237 Iasi, Romania. At 7:25, a representative of an electoral competitor entered the polling station with a camera, having told the PEB president that he wanted to place the camera so that he could film the entire election. The PEB president explained that this was impossible, and after checking his documents he found that this representative was not even properly registered or authorized.

Electoral campaigning or black PR in the 100 m perimeter and/or in the polling station to influence voters’ choice – 1 case. On Election Day, any form of electoral campaigning or promotion of negative information (black PR) is strictly prohibited, so as not to influence the voter’s choice.

1. PS 02/264 Chisinau, Vatra. A representative who was in the PS wore a ribbon inscribed with the symbols of an electoral competitor.

Unjustified group voting (there are 2 and more persons in the voting booths) or when one and the same person assists several times voters who cannot fill out the ballot papers by themselves – 1 case. Voting must be secret and freely expressed, and group voting violates these principles and may be a way of controlling the vote or exercising improper influence on the voter.

1. PS 21/032 Ialoveni, Puhoi. At 08:15, two persons entered the voting booth simultaneously, i.e. husband and wife. When the PEB president objected, they separated to vote.

Restricted access for observers or obstruction of the free observation process in the polling station – 4 cases. It is essential that observers can monitor the conduct of elections in order to ensure their transparency and fairness.

1. PS 27/30 Riscani, Pascauti. At 6:30, the PEB President did not allow access to the promo-LEX observer, having invoked the fact that observers can enter only at 7:00, as the bureau members had to make preparations. At 6:35, he was allowed in. The observer noted that he had explained to the president that she had no right to restrict the access. He also requested to be recorded and informed that he intended to take pictures and video. The president said she did not allow it.
2. PS 04/13 Anenii Noi, Chetrosu. At 06:32, the Promo-LEX observer was denied access to the PS. The PEB president asked the observer to leave the PS and return after the opening. At 06:45, the Observer was allowed to enter the PS, but the representative of an electoral competitor was already in the section at that time and the access had previously been allowed to him.
3. PS 01/175 Chisinau, Ciocana. The observer, at 07:15, asked to see the ballot papers in order to verify the possibility of applying the “withdrawn” stamp, but the PEB president refused the possibility of viewing.
4. PS 38/61 Leipzig, Federal Republic of Germany. The Promo-LEX observer was temporarily obstructed with access to the PS. There were several attempts to enter the section to talk with the president, but she returned with the same information each time, that he had to wait and he was not allegedly found in the CEC lists. The identification card and the identity card were presented, but it was communicated first that the PS should be opened and then the access should be allowed. Meanwhile, voters came in to cast their ballot papers. Access to the observer was granted only at 07:54.

Incidents related to the organization of voting  

Ballot papers that were not distributed to the PEB members are not kept in a safe/closet inside the polling station – 6 cases. We specify that the storage of the ballot papers that were not distributed must take place in accordance with the legal regulations, in order to ensure the integrity and security of the electoral process.

1. PS 20/031, Hincesti, Dragusenii Noi. Despite the existence of a safe in the PS, the ballot papers that are not distributed are kept in sight, on stage near the curtain.
2. PS 21/09, Ialoveni, Bardar. At 07:00, it was found that the ballot papers were kept on two chairs in a corner of the PS. When the PEB president was informed, she ensured that she organized keeping them in the safe as soon as possible.
3. PS 20/06 Hincesti, Balceana. At 06:45, it was found that the ballot papers that were not distributed to the PEB members were stored improperly in a cardboard box, located in the PS at a distance of about 2 meters from the table of the PEB president. The PEB president was informed, but she did not take action, having argued that she did not have proper space to keep them.
4. PS 38/111 Tel-Aviv, Israel. At 7:00, the ballot papers are kept in a bag, as the PS does not have a safe or closet.
5. PS 38/029 Tallinn, Republic of Estonia. At 7:00, the ballot papers that were not distributed were kept on a table behind the table of PEB members.
6. PS 38/068 Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany. The ballot papers are kept in bags because the PS does not have a safe/closet.

Deficiencies in the operation of the SAIS Elections (technical errors, problems related to voter registration, etc.) – 1 case. If the SAIS Elections becomes unworkable, jams may occur in the process of registering voters who show up to vote. The role of this system is also to prevent multiple voting.

1. PS 12/27 Criuleni, Magdacesti Nord. At 07:05, the internet connection was lost and it was fixed at 07:12 (approx. 7 min). No congestion was created during the fault.

Voting with non-compliant identity documents (expired identity card, digital identity documents) – 2 cases. Voters must present valid identity documents in order to exercise their right to vote. An exception is allowed in the case of diaspora voters, who can vote with the passport including the expired validity period, if other situations in which, according to the legal provisions, it has become invalid, did not occurred.

1. PS 01/032 Chisinau, Botanica. At 07:33, a PEB member approached the SAIS operators and asked to vote based on the digital identity document. The PEB president gave his consent and the PEB member voted.
2. PS 01/197 Chisinau, Riscani. At 07:38, a voter said he had only a photo of his ID card. The PEB president referred him to SAIS Elections operators, who issued him a ballot paper, and he voted subsequently.

Incidents related to voting influence 

Organized transportation of voters (buses, minibuses, or other transport units that would normally not be around the polling station) – 2 cases. Compliance with this prohibition is aimed at maintaining the integrity of elections.    

1. PS 37/6 Causeni. At 07:00, at least 70 persons arrived at the polling station simultaneously, transported by 18 cars with Transnistrian registration numbers. Vehicles came in the column, in each of which were 4-5 persons. Voters gathered around the polling station, communicated with each other and seemed to know each other. They stayed nearby for 10-15 minutes, after which they entered the section gradually, voted and left in an orderly manner. There was congestion during that time, but it was not noted before and after that time.
2. PS 37/5 Causeni. At the polling station, two cars with Transnistrian registration numbers parked nearby, from which about 10 persons got off, including the two drivers. The drivers did not participate in the vote, but remained to wait, while the others entered the section. The group came together, in an orderly manner, while discussing the need to vote for a particular candidate. It was also noted that a Telegram channel was open on some people’s phones with messages that seemed to contain instructions, and some even had their phone cameras turned on.

Others – 4 cases. 

1. PS 36/38 ATUG, Carbalia. The ballot boxes were sealed at 06:42, without previously being shown to participants to confirm whether they were empty or not. Thus, the sealing of the ballot boxes took place long before the official opening of the polling station.
2. PS 01/297 Codru, Chisinau. The minutes on the opening of the polling station were not thrown into the ballot box at the time of opening, due to the refusal of a PEB member to sign it.
3. PS 01/098 Chisinau, Buiucani. A PEB member, at 07:30, photographed a voter who had voted and was already leaving the PS. The PEB president did not notice.
4. PS 26/34 Rezina, Saharna. At 06:45, when the lists were distributed to the PEB members, two identical sets of electoral lists were found. The PEB president took away the second set of electoral lists.

The press release is elaborated within the Observation Mission for the parliamentary elections of 28 September 2025, carried out by Promo-LEX association with the financial support of Sweden, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the European Union, the Embassy of France and the Council of Europe, under the aegis of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. 

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

For further information please contact:

Dumitrita Ciuvaga
Communication Officer
Promo-LEX Association
Tel: +373 68 800 82