Promo-LEX Mission for Observing the Presidential Elections and Republican Constitutional Referendum on October 20 (November 3), 2024: Latest election day data

November 3, 2024
Ora: 22:00

The Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission for the presidential elections and constitutional referendum on October 20 (November 3), 2024, reports that by 22:00, the central team has processed 1,064 cases as incidents (since the opening of polling stations), of which this release includes 103 confirmed incidents.

According to observers, of the 614 monitored polling stations, only one did not close at the designated time of 21:00.

The majority of Promo-LEX observers assessed the overall atmosphere at polling stations throughout election day as positive, with rating it as good or very good (99.5%).

Incidents related to the failure to maintain order in the polling station and within a 100-meter radius.

Presence of advertising materials, displays, and electoral panels within the polling station vicinity (100 meters from the polling location) – 1 case. It is essential to emphasize that the responsibility for the removal of such advertising materials rests with the Local Public Administration (APL). This measure is designed to safeguard voters from external influences while they exercise their right to vote.

1. PS 18/38 Florești, Izvoare:Within a 100-meter radius of the polling station, electoral posters promoting candidate Maia Sandu (PAS) were observed on an information board.

Electoral agitation or negative campaigning (PR) within the 100-meter radius and/or inside the polling station (PS) aimed at influencing voter choices – 2 cases. Electoral agitation or the dissemination of negative information (negative PR) is strictly prohibited on election day, both within the polling station and within a 100-meter radius, to prevent undue influence on voters’ decisions.

1. SV 13/18 Dondușeni, Plop: The Deputy Head of the Edineț Territorial Office of the State Chancellery called emergency services (112), reporting that Batrânache Veceslav was allegedly engaging in electoral agitation near the polling station, urging citizens to vote for and support Alexandr Stoianoglo. Law enforcement will investigate all circumstances before making a determination.
2. SV 01/122 Chișinău, Centru: At approximately 20:20, a voter video-recorded himself inside the voting booth, audibly stating, “голосую за Стояногло” (“voting for Stoianoglo”) as he stamped his ballot. Members of the electoral bureau (PEB) observed the incident but did not intervene or take any action. The voter marked his ballot and exited the polling station.

Unauthorized presence within the polling station or within a 100-meter radius – 3 cases. This prohibition aims to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, free from any undue influence.

1. PS 14/011 Drochia, Chetrosu: At approximately 18:20, the village mayor arrived outside the polling station. A national observer from PA MIRAD advised her that her presence within the restricted 100-meter perimeter was not permitted. The mayor then returned to her vehicle and left. This interaction, however, led to a brief dispute within the Polling Station Electoral Bureau (PEB) between the observer who had issued the caution and a representative of PAS, along with the PEB president and a PEB member. They contended that the mayor and the district president are authorized to be near the polling station to verify that operations are proceeding smoothly, and argued that the observer’s intervention was unnecessary. The conflict was quickly resolved.
2. PS 01/136 Chișinău, Centru: Between 19:00 and 19:30, an unauthorized individual was present within the polling station, standing near the operators. This individual, who was an acquaintance from university, did not interfere with any aspect of the voting process. The PEB members observed the situation but did not take action, and the individual eventually departed.
3. PS 6/1 Briceni: Between 19:20 and 19:49, the guard of the Cultural Center, where the polling station is situated, was observed inside the voting area. The PEB members noted the guard’s presence but did not comment or take any action regarding the presence of this unauthorized individual within the polling station.

Violations of ballot secrecy (photographing marked ballots, displaying the marked ballots; improper placement of ballots that allows visibility of voter choices) – 46 cases. Voters are prohibited from taking photos of their marked ballots, showing their ballots, and placing ballots in the ballot box in a manner that makes their voting choices visible.

1. PS 02/45, Bălți: At 17:55, a voter photographed her ballot, stating she did so to inform her mother. PEB members asked her to delete the photo, and she complied, proceeding to cast her vote. A Promo-LEX observer, however, overheard a phone conversation in which she mentioned having recovered the deleted photo and planned to resend it.
2. PS 01/172, Chișinău, Ciocana: At 17:13, a voter took a photo of her ballot. Although PEB members requested that she delete it, they did not verify compliance, reasoning that “they are not police officers to be checking voters’ phones.”
3. PS 35/07, Ungheni: At 17:59, a voter photographed the ballot while in the voting booth. The PEB secretary insisted on verifying the phone, after which the photo was deleted without incident.
4. PS 01/278, Chișinău, Bubuieci: At 17:36, within the polling station, a voter took a photo as her husband cast his ballot, making his choice visible. The ballot was placed in the ballot box, and PEB members did not intervene.
5. PS 25/30, Orhei, Crihana: At 18:12, a voter took a photo of his ballot after marking it. Following the intervention of the PEB president, he deleted the image from his phone.
6. PS 32/08, Ștefan Vodă, Carahasani: At 18:40, a voter photographed the ballot, which was observed by PEB members. When asked to delete the image, the voter denied taking any photos. The PEB president called the police, who verified that the image was present on the phone. The voter was escorted by police and permitted to cast the ballot afterward.
7. PS 37/01, Stânga Nistrului, Chișinău: At 18:00, a voter took a photo of the ballot. When asked to delete it, the voter refused. Police were called, but the voter quickly left the polling station before they arrived.
8. PS 07/48, Cahul, Lucești: The video camera was positioned to capture voters’ faces as they placed their ballots in the box. After informing the PEB president, the camera was repositioned.
9. PS 01/265, Chișinău, Sângera: At 18:29, a voter attempted to photograph the ballot in the voting booth. PEB members intervened and requested deletion, which the voter complied with.
10. PS 01/124, Chișinău, Centru: At 16:36, a voter attempted to record the voting process on video. He declined to allow PEB members to inspect his phone or surrender it, leading to police intervention. Ultimately, he cast his vote without further issue.
11. PS 01/296, Chișinău, Tohatin: A voter took a photo of the ballot, which was deleted at the PEB president’s request.
12. PS 01/254, Chișinău, Cricova: At 18:45, a voter took a photo of the ballot. Upon being asked by PEB members to delete it, he placed the ballot in the box and left without complying.
13. PS 22/005, Leova: A Promo-LEX observer identified a social media video posted by a voter from this polling station showing the moment the “Voted” stamp was applied.
14. PS 22/003, Leova: During the transport of a mobile ballot box to a district hospital, a voting booth was placed over a bedridden voter and held by a PEB member. Due to this setup, both the PEB member and an accompanying individual were able to view the voter’s selection.
15. PS 29/01, Soroca: At 19:05, a voter photographed his ballot. A PEB member requested deletion, and the voter complied.
16. PS 14/018, Drochia, Gribova: At 14:00, a Promo-LEX observer accompanied a mobile ballot box to a local elderly home, where disabled residents voted. Those unable to sign were asked to mark with a plus sign, and were questioned about their choice of candidate. In some cases, ballots were marked by a healthcare assistant on behalf of the voters.
17. PS 26/005, Rezina: According to a Promo-LEX observer, voter confidentiality was compromised at a local elderly home. The mobile team, with assistance from a social worker, went from room to room. In eight cases, the social worker signed for voters and marked ballots after confirming their choices. PEB members did not intervene.
18. PS 09/008, Călărași: Promo-LEX observers at an elderly home noted that PEB members had forgotten to bring a voting booth. As a result, all 18 voters cast their ballots in full view. For those in poor health, a caregiver helped by placing the stamp according to the voter’s choice.
19. PS 01/160, Chișinău, Ciocana: A PEB member noticed a voter attempting to photograph a ballot. The phone was inspected, but no photo was found. PEB members explained that photographing ballots is prohibited, allowing the voter to proceed after clarifying the rules.
20. PS 01/106, Chișinău, Buiucani: After an attempt to remove the ballot from the station, a voter cast her ballot by marking two candidates and displaying her selection publicly before exiting.
21. PS 01/298, Chișinău, Trușeni: After casting his vote, a voter photographed the ballot, but PEB members persuaded him to delete the image.
22. PS 22/026, Leova, Filipeni: A voter photographed the ballot and posted it on social media.
23. PS 15/002, Dubăsari, Cocieri: At the Corjova Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, a table was used as the voting area without privacy, allowing onlookers to see votes cast. Observers noted that voters appeared coached to support presidential candidate A. Stoianoglo, with staff making comments toward those unwilling to vote.
24. PS 01/184, Chișinău, Ciocana: At 19:35, a voter photographed her ballot after marking it. The PEB president warned her that this was prohibited, but she continued, citing language comprehension issues. After explanations in Russian, the voter initially refused to delete the images, prompting police involvement. She eventually deleted the photos, explaining her husband had requested them as proof. Police arrived 15 minutes later, and the president documented the incident in an official report.
25. PS 20/29, Hîncești, Cotul Morii Sărăteni. Throughout the day, immediately after some voters cast their ballots, the president of the PEB approached the ballot box and shook it to see how the voting had gone. He did this several times, saying, “These are our people.”
26. PS 36/01 ATUG, Comrat. At 19:54, in the voting booth, a voter photographed their ballot after voting. Upon intervention by PEB members, the photo was deleted.
27. PS 01/122, Chișinău, Centru. At 20:20, a voter filmed themselves voting in the booth and stated during the filming, “I’m voting for Stoianoglo,” after which they placed the stamp. PEB members saw this but did not react or take any action. He voted and left.
28. PS SV 01/122, Chișinău, Centru. At 20:25, a female voter took a photo of her ballot and loudly proclaimed this fact (possibly to her husband who was in the adjacent booth). It was heard in the room when the female voter stated aloud that she had photographed her ballot, but neither the polling station members nor the president reacted or took any action. The voter cast her vote and left.
29. PS 4/12, Anenii Noi, Chetrosu. At 15:30, a female voter photographed her ballot after casting her vote. This action went unnoticed by the polling station members or representatives. The incident was later discovered on social media, where the photo was published on the voter’s profile.
30. PS 07/34, Cahul, Crihana Veche. At 20:25, upon the arrival of the mobile team observers in the polling station, it was found that the video camera was positioned in such a way that it filmed both the voting booths and the faces of the voters.
31. PS 38/6, Kingdom of Belgium, Brussels. At 16:57, a voter photographed their ballot. The president of the polling station asked him to delete the photos. The photos were deleted from both the photo file and the recently deleted files album.
32. PS 38/99, Republic of Italy, Milan. At 16:58, a voter photographed their ballot. Following this situation and the voter’s indignation, the president of the polling station decided to annul their ballot (without issuing another ballot). In addition to this incident, four other attempts to photograph the ballot were observed.
33. PS 38/123, Republic of Italy, Bologna. A voter photographed their ballot in the voting booth, and polling station members requested that he delete the photo, but in the end, it is unclear whether the voter deleted the photo.
34. PS 38/168, Kingdom of the Netherlands, The Hague. A voter in an advanced state of intoxication created a state of stress and crisis for the polling station members. Moving towards the voting booth, he vocally and nervously argued that he could not vote freely, as he was pressured by certain political supporters outside the polling station to vote for their candidate. For about 10 minutes, the polling station members tried to calm him down, but he continued to make noise. Eventually, he nervously expressed his choice and publicly revealed his voting option, placing the stamp randomly. At 17:13, the police arrived on the scene, and no political supporters were observed in the courtyard or in front of the embassy.
35. PS 38/5, Kingdom of Belgium, Brussels. Three voters photographed their ballots. The polling station members noticed the incident and warned the voters, who complied and deleted the photos.
36. PS 38/168, Kingdom of the Netherlands, The Hague. A voter photographed their ballot. The polling station members noticed the incident and warned him that he would be fined.
37. PS 16/47, Edineț, Tîrnova. At 19:10, in the polling station, a voter photographed their ballot with the “Voted” stamp applied. The polling station members intervened with a warning, explaining the fines applicable for such actions. The voter acknowledged their wrongdoing and, together with the president of the polling station, deleted the photo. The ballot was then placed in the box.
38. PS 38/27, French Republic, Paris. A person photographed their ballot in the voting booth. Upon exit, the person was stopped by a polling station member and asked to delete the photo.
39. PS 38/112, Republic of Italy, Venice. A voter photographed their ballot. A polling station member observed the situation and informed the president of the polling station, who explained to the voter that they were not allowed to take pictures and insisted that he delete the photo from his phone. The voter deleted the photo, then placed the ballot in the ballot box and left the polling station.
40. PS 38/228, Republic of Turkey, Istanbul. A voter photographed their ballot. Following a report by the polling station members, the photo was deleted.
41. PS 38/98, Republic of Italy, Milan. Throughout the day, 25 cases were observed where voters photographed their ballots. In only a few cases did the individuals become agitated, but they were explained that photography was prohibited.
42. 01/045, Chișinău, Botanica. A female voter photographed her ballot. The president of the polling station called the police to resolve the situation. The police are currently handling the incident.
43. PS 01/252, Chișinău, Cricova. A voter was caught photographing their ballot. At the request of the president of the polling station, the photo was deleted.
44. 19/01, Glodeni. At 20:50, a voter arrived at the polling station to vote. He received the ballot and went to vote. He took out his phone and began photographing the ballot. The president of the polling station made an observation, and the voter began to revolt and continued taking pictures. The president of the polling station called the police. The voter was removed from the polling station. The photos were not deleted.
45. PS 38/180, Romania, Bucharest. Inside the polling station, a voter photographed their ballot. The polling station members requested that the voter delete the photo. The voter complied.
46. PS 29/02, Soroca. During the election day, two cases of ballot photographing were reported, in both cases the police were notified to rectify the situation.

Unjustified group voting – 2 cases. Voting must be conducted in a secret and freely expressed manner. Group voting undermines these principles and may facilitate control over the voting process or exert undue influence on the voter.

1. PS 01/258, Chișinău, Durlești. At 17:46, two elderly voters, capable of independently exercising their right to vote, entered the same voting booth. One of them placed the “voted” stamp on both ballots, after which they left together toward the ballot box, and no one made any observations to them.
2. PS 15/002, Dubăsari, Cocieri. During the monitoring of voting with the mobile ballot box at the Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, the Promo-LEX observer identified cases of group consultation and voting, including more than two people. The voters were warned by the PEB members.

Restricted access for observers or obstruction of the free observation process in the polling station – 1 case. It is essential for observers to be able to monitor the conduct of the elections to ensure their transparency and fairness.

1. PS 25/31, Orhei, Cucuruzeni. Throughout the day, the areas designated for observers and representatives of electoral competitors were placed behind concrete columns, thus limiting the free observation of the voting booths. However, observers were not prohibited from moving around within the polling station.

Incidents related to vote influencing

Rumors, attempts or even situations of material or monetary rewards offered to voters in the 100 m perimeter of the polling station to determine the voters’ vote – 1 case. Such practices are strictly prohibited and pose a significant threat to the integrity of the electoral process.

1. PS 37/04 Stânga Nistrului, Calfa. During the election day, a white minibus with the registration number ATA 696 was observed twice (apparently operating on the Gura Bîcului – Varnița route). The first observation occurred at 09:27, approximately 150 meters from the polling station. An observer approached the minibus and asked the driver if it was available. The driver replied that it was not and continued counting several banknotes and making a list. The second observation of this minibus took place at 19:09, also at a distance of 150/200 meters from the polling station. A man exited the minibus, and the driver handed him a sum of money (the exact amount could not be identified).

Organized transport of voters (coaches, minibuses or other transport units that would not tipically be present around) – 3 cases. Adhering to this prohibition is essential for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

1. PS 38/194, Russian Federation, Moscow. In the area of Sosnovaia Street, near the Kotelniki bus station, approximately 26 km away from polling stations 194 and 195, Moldovan citizens were organizedly brought in by buses. This location is close to the Kotelniki metro station, which is on the same line as the Kuznețki Most station, where the polling stations are located. At the time of observation, passengers were disembarking from and boarding two buses with registration numbers Y787XH790 and X616OC790.
2. PS 38/5, Kingdom of Belgium, Brussels. In the last hour, it became evident that several voters were moving in groups. The groups ranged from 7 to 15 people who were brought to vote in the same vehicles, which had no taxi markings and whose drivers spoke Romanian. Both the embassy security and the entrance members confirmed that the waves of voters were being organizedly transported. Individuals from different groups were asked if they had come together and for what reason, but all refused to provide an answer. They confirmed the shared transport but did not offer a justified response. Members of the electoral authority did not react. Such transportation also occurred throughout the day, but it drew attention due to the number of people arriving in groups in the last hour.
3. P 15/3, Dubăsari, Corjova. At 13:49, a minibus arrived, which usually operates on the Dubăsari – Molovata Nouă route. It was full of voters, approximately 20 voters. The registration number was MDM 680. All voters entered the polling station in an organized manner, but the minibus parked nearby. After the voters exited, they all left in the same direction, and a few minutes later, the minibus also departed in the same direction.

Incidents of intimidation or acts of violence involving voters, PEB members, observers, media, or other persons – 4 cases. Intimidation can take various forms, ranging from verbal threats to physical violence, and can significantly impact participants in the electoral process.

1. PS 37/08, 37/09, 37/10 Stânga Nistrului, Varnița. At 18:20, a bomb threat was announced, causing all polling stations to be closed. Some voters decided to head to the polling station in Gura Bîcului.
2. SV 37/15, Căușeni, Hagimus. Between 16:00 and 18:20, the internet connection was lost, and the SAIS system did not function, resulting in the suspension of the voting process. In this context, the Promo-LEX observer was assaulted and booed for not protecting voters’ rights, being recorded and threatened with a lawsuit. The observer was accused of being biased in this process.
3. SV 19/29, Glodeni, Limbenii Noi. At 19:00, a voter attempted to photograph the ballot. When the president of the electoral authority approached him, the voter kicked the voting booth, damaging it. The police were called. The voter cast the ballot into the box and was subsequently escorted outside by a police officer.
4. SV 01/172, Chișinău, Ciocana. At 19:50, the Promo-LEX observer was invited into the office of the president of the electoral authority, where they were intimidated for reporting the incident at 06:55 (improper sealing of the ballot boxes: one with four seals, another with two, and the mobile box with one seal). The president of the electoral authority stated that she had received only seven seals and that such situations should have been discussed before reporting the incident. She blamed the observer for tarnishing her good name at the Central Electoral Commission due to their lack of experience. As a solution, the president suggested the observer contact the Promo-LEX mission and admit their mistake, claiming that a ballot box had been removed from the polling station, even though one of the stationary ballot boxes was still sealed with two seals.

Incidents related to the organization of voting process

Ballot boxes were not sealed according to legal procedures/ broken/ damaged or missing seals on ballot boxes – 3 cases. According to existing legislation, ballot boxes must be secured with four seals to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

1. PS 07/49, Cahul, Manta. At 19:45, it was found that the mobile ballot box used by the PEB members in the locality was not closed and sealed. The president of the electoral authority stated that two new, inexperienced members of the mobile team had left without knowing that they were supposed to close and seal the mobile ballot box. He also added that he had only one seal left, which they would need for sealing other electoral materials.
2. PS 25/11, Orhei. All stationary ballot boxes were sealed with only two seals each. The president of the electoral authority explained that he could not find the rest of the seals, and then added that he considered two seals to be sufficient.
3. PS 36/14 ATUG, Ceadîr-Lunga. The stationary ballot box was sealed with only three seals.

Interruption of the filming process for electoral operations throughout the voting day – 7 cases. Any disruption in filming can raise suspicions and undermine public confidence in the integrity of the elections.

1. PS 01/117, Chișinău, Centru. At 18:00, it was observed on the camera screen that it had been recording for 5 hours and 30 minutes, which means it was turned on around 12:30. An estimated calculation indicates that the camera recorded a total of 9 hours throughout the day, and not 11:30 as it should have. The PEB president stated that the camera was disconnected in the early part of the day because it was unplugged to charge a lamp needed for individuals with vision problems. The president explained that he thought the camera would work without being plugged in.
2. PS 06/02, Briceni. At 20:27, upon the arrival of the mobile team observers at the polling station, it was found that the video camera was not functioning. After a demonstration on how to connect the camera, it began to operate and record the process normally. It was not possible to estimate the exact duration during which the voting process was not recorded.
3. PS 01/204, Chișinău, Rîșcani. Between 20:30 and 20:50, the video camera did not record the voting process. It was connected to the operator’s laptop in an attempt to free up space on the memory card.
4. PS 18/39, Florești, Bezeni. At the entrance to the polling station at 20:44, the mobile team observers found that the video camera was not working. According to the PEB president, it had not been functioning for at least 2 hours because the memory card was full. The representatives of the electoral commission were informed of this situation, and a report was to be completed.
5. PS 11/09, Cimișlia. The vote counting process was not recorded, and the disconnected video camera was stored in a corner of the polling station.
6. PS 01/250, Chișinău, Codru. At 14:00, the video camera was removed. The PEB president explained that the memory had been exhausted. A report was made regarding this matter.
7. PS 12/10, Criuleni, Cimișeni. At 21:05, the video camera was disconnected by the PEB president.

Unjustified termination/suspension of voting at the polling station – 2 cases. It is specified that any interruption of the voting process must be justified and documented by the president of the polling station and communicated to the competent authorities.

1. PS 38/178, Romania, Bucharest. Around 18:00, the gendarmerie intervened and informed about a bomb threat, stating that checks would be carried out. As a result, access to the building and the surrounding streets was blocked until the checks were completed. The electoral process was halted. Voters were redirected to other polling stations, totaling around 10-20 people. All PEB members, along with observers, were trapped inside the polling station. The checks lasted about 30 minutes, after which the polling station was reopened. The alert turned out to be a false one.
2. PS 17/1, Fălești. The observer noted that several voters had to wait approximately 8 minutes inside the polling station due to the absence of SAIS operators at their posts. The electoral authority stated that the operators were in the building where the polling station is located and returned after being called by the president of the electoral authority.

Deficiencies in the operation of SAIS Elections (suspension of operation; situations when SAIS Elections indicates that the voter voted, and he claims that he did not vote) – 6 cases. If the SAIS Elections becomes inoperable, it could lead to bottlenecks in the voter registration process. This system plays a crucial role in ensuring that voters are registered accurately and helps prevent multiple voting.

1. PS 37/23 Dubăsari, Ustia. At 18:00, access to the PAIS Elections was unavailable for a duration of 20 minutes. Following this period, connectivity was restored via the mobile phone of a PEB member. To resolve the issue, the intervention of Moldtelecom technicians was requested.
2. PS 02/26 Bălți. At 18:40, a voter could not be located in the PAIS Elections and was instead listed in the supplemental registry. Despite holding a residence visa within the jurisdiction of the respective polling station, the voter reported encountering the same issue during each electoral event.
3. PS 37/26 Florești, Sănătăuca. Between 16:40 and 17:02, one of the two operators experienced difficulties connecting to the internet. This issue was resolved through the hotspot of the second operator.
4. PS 01/124 Chișinău, Centru. Between 15:32 and 15:35, one of the operators was unable to establish a connection to the SAIS.
5. PS 37/15 Căușeni, Hagimus. From 16:00 to 18:20, the internet connection was disrupted, resulting in a failure of the PAIS system, which led to the suspension of the voting process. The PEB president contacted the police to maintain order and also reached out to Moldtelecom for assistance in resolving the situation. The internet connection was restored at 18:20; however, by that time, over 180 voters had already departed for another polling station.
6. PS 15/3 Dubăsari, Corjova. At 17:10, the connection to the SAIS Elections was interrupted. The initial presumed cause was the loss of the internet connection. Consequently, the voting process was halted for approximately 15-20 minutes, during which some voters, unable to cast their ballots, exited the polling station. Voting resumed after one of the SAIS operators managed to reconnect to the internet using mobile data from a phone (Hotspot). The second SAIS operator was unable to access the database. Members of the PEB requested assistance from Moldtelecom, and subsequent investigations revealed that the issue was not related to the internet connection but rather stemmed from technical difficulties within the SAIS system. By 20:00, these technical issues remained unresolved.

Irregularities in the electoral lists – 6 cases. 

1. PS 1/54, Chișinău, Botanica. A voter reported that, although both she and her husband have voted for many years at the same polling station, they were unable to find their names on the basic electoral list this year. However, two other residents were still registered at their apartment. The voters were permitted to cast their ballots after being registered on the supplementary electoral list.
2. PS 25/39, Orhei, Ivancea. At 19:45, a case was reported where a voter approached to sign for his ballot and noticed that a signature had already been made next to his name. This signature was completed by another individual with the same name and date of birth. There are seven voters registered with the same name and surname on the list, and all came to exercise their right to vote. As a result, the individual did not find his name in the correct position but signed next to the name of the next individual with the same name, who had signed on his behalf. The voter reacted calmly, stating that he understood the situation. The president and secretary of the PEB were very responsive and intervened to resolve the incident, allowing him to sign on behalf of the voter who had signed for him, after which he exercised his right to vote.
3. PS 6/1 Briceni. At 19:26, the PEB president identified two deceased individuals listed on the electoral rolls. However, no further action was taken regarding this observation.
4. PS 6/18 Briceni, Corjeuți. Approximately 33 voters, including six PEB members who were assigned to Polling Station 6/18 according to their residence, were found on the basic electoral lists of Polling Station 6/17. Subsequently, they voted after being included in the supplementary electoral lists.
5. PS 07/34 Cahul, Crihana Veche. According to the PEB president, several voters cast their ballots on the supplementary lists throughout the day due to erroneous assignments to another polling station, despite their identification documents indicating they should have been assigned to the respective polling station.
6. PS 06/17 Briceni, Corjeuți. Approximately 500 voters were reportedly assigned to the basic electoral lists at Polling Station 6/17, even though their residences are within the jurisdiction of Polling Station 6/18. This situation is known to both the members and the PEB president, as well as the members of the CECE Briceni. The PEB president is unaware of the cause of this situation.

Other – 16 cases.

1. PS 28/17 Sîngerei, Bilicenii Vechi. During the voting day, a voter with mental disabilities, accompanied by a guardian, hid the ballot in his pocket after voting. Later, upon returning home, the guardian discovered the ballot in the pocket and at 17:00 they returned to the polling station. The PEB president allowed the voter to exercise his right by personally placing the ballot into the ballot box. The PEB president called the police to document the case given the circumstances.
2. PS 25/73, Orhei, Susleni. At 17:25, a representative of the PSRM was absent from the polling station for approximately one hour, after which he returned exhibiting signs of intoxication. He began making noise, claiming that there had been vote fraud at the polling station. Eventually, the members of the PEB calmed him down.
3. Stânga Nistrului. At 19:10, access for two vehicles was reopened on the Rîbnița-Rezina bridge. Engineers vacated the bridge, and access remained blocked to the localities whose routes pass beneath the bridge.
4. PS 01/239 Chișinău, Rîșcani. A voter cast his ballot using only a photograph of his identity document displayed on his phone. The PEB president did not witness the incident.
5. PS 01/151 Chișinău, Ciocana. A female voter attempted to exercise her right to vote on behalf of her mother using her mother’s identity document. She passed through the PAIS operators without having her identity verified. Upon reaching the PEB members, the discrepancy was noted, with the voter admitting that her mother was paralyzed and that she was unaware of the option for a “mobile ballot box.” Ultimately, the voter exercised her right based on her own identity document.
6. PS 01/017 Chișinău, Botanica. At 19:18, a voter with a passport of the Republic of Moldova approached the polling station. He was listed on the basic electoral lists. A PEB member refused to issue him a ballot because he presented a passport. The voter called the National Anticorruption Center (CNA). The PEB president instructed the member to issue the ballot, but he refused; the president then called the police. The voter received the ballot and was able to vote.
7. PS 01/106 Chișinău, Buiucani. After receiving her ballot, a female voter attempted to leave the polling station with it. When the PEB members admonished her, she replied that she had the right to leave with the ballot. The PEB president called the police. Subsequently, the individual cast her vote, marking “voted” next to two candidates, and displayed her ballot publicly before leaving the polling station.
8. PS 30/15, Strășeni, Cojușna. Between 15:00 and 17:00, a SAIS “Elections” operator left with the team responsible for the mobile ballot box. During this time, a PEB member temporarily replaced him, taking on the role of SAIS “Elections” operator.
9. Stânga Nistrului. In Rezina, at 19:35, it was noted that the flow of voters from the Transnistrian region remained significant, with all voters moving on foot.
10. Stânga Nistrului. At 20:00, traffic on the bridge was halted again. To clear the bridge of vehicles and people, the police prohibited all access to the bridge and beneath it, continuing checks with the assistance of dogs. Shortly thereafter, at 20:25, the police began to allow groups of 10-15 people to cross the bridge at 10-minute intervals, providing detailed instructions on how to cross.
11. PS 38/181, România, Iași. At 18:51, an elector was identified by the SAIS “Elections” operator as having voted earlier around 10:00 in Călărași, Republic of Moldova. The PAIS “Elections” system detected this fact, and the operator immediately called the president of the PEB. When asked if she confirmed that she had voted previously in Călărași, she acknowledged it and voluntarily chose to leave the polling station.
12. PS 38/123, Republica Italiană, Bologna. Due to a lack of knowledge regarding electoral procedures and insufficient guidance from PEB members, voters exited the polling station with unused ballots. As they stepped into the adjacent corridor, they were redirected by volunteers and then applied the “voted” stamp on their ballots.
13. PS 01/298 Chișinău, Trușeni. The counting procedure was not conducted according to protocol. Immediately after the ballot boxes, both mobile and stationary, were overturned, all PEB members rushed to count the votes in order to finish more quickly.
14. PS 01/095 Chișinău, Buiucani. The counting procedure did not follow established protocols. PEB members began counting the ballots separately without presenting each ballot to the president of the PEB. Ballots showing ambiguities were evaluated by the PEB members through voting to decide their validity.
15. PS 01/085 Chișinău, Buiucani. The counting procedure was not conducted according to established protocols. During the sorting of ballots per candidate, both PAIS operators were also involved.
16. PS 07/34 Cahul, Crihana Veche. The representative of the electoral competitor Alexandr Stoianoglo (PSRM) interfered in the vote counting process. The PEB president admonished him, prohibiting his involvement in the process.

The release is prepared within the framework of the Presidential Election and Constitutional Referendum Observation Mission of October 20, 2024, conducted by the Promo-LEX Association, with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the International Organization of La Francophonie, and the Soros Foundation Moldova. The observation mission is carried out under the aegis of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.

The opinions expressed in the public statements of the Promo-LEX Observation Mission belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders or partners. The content of this document may be subject to editorial revisions.

Erratum: Due to an admitted error, in the Election Day Monitoring Report (Round II) at 22:00, in incident no. 4 under the category “Interruptions during the filming of election operations on Election Day,” polling station 18/59 was mistakenly listed instead of 18/39. We would like to correct this information, clarifying that the incident in question refers to polling station 18/39.

For further information, please contact:

Dumitrița Ciuvaga
Comunication Officer
Promo-LEX Association
Tel: +373 68 800 827