11 July 2021
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the Early Parliamentary Elections of 11 July 2021, states that by 9:00 a.m. the Mission had received 113 incident reports from observers, with this press release including 55 incidents processed by the Promo LEX Observation Mission’s central team at that hour.
Observation methodology
For the election day, Promo-LEX OM appointed one short-term observer (STO) in each of the 600 polling stations (PSs), selected on the basis of a sample established by a sociological company.
In addition, one static observer is assigned in each of the 41 polling stations where voters from the transnistrian region will exercise their right to vote.
The electoral process in the polling stations, in their immediate proximity and the access ways to the polling stations, including those for the voters from the transnistrian region, will be monitored by 80 mobile teams.
Particular attention will be also paid to the polling stations abroad, where static observers were delegated in 84 PSs.
Incidents reported upon polling station opening:
Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the Early Parliamentary Elections of 11 July 2021 finds,
Restricted access for observers or obstruction of free observation in the polling station – 4 cases.
- PS 37/11 Anenii Noi, Varnita. At 6:25 a.m. the PS was closed. The observer required access, but he could not enter. The PEB Chairperson argued that he had not noticed him and let him enter the PS at 7:00 a.m.
- PS 32/030 Stefan Voda, Talmaza. The Promo-LEX observer is not allowed to move within the PS.
- PS 37/022 Causeni, Hagimus. The Promo-LEX observer arrived at the PS at 6:30 a.m., but he was allowed to enter only at 6:45 a.m.
- PS 4/039 Anenii Noi, Varnita. The Promo-LEX observer arrived at the polling station at 6:30 a.m., but the PEB members did not let him in justifying that he arrived too late. He was allowed to enter at 7:00 a.m.
Organised transportation of voters (buses, minibuses or other transport units that, normally, do not have to stay close to the polling stations) – 2 cases.
- PS 37/18 Transnistrian region, Copanca. 10 transport units were noticed. Cars and minibuses for 7 people, all of them full with people. Cars’ make: Mercedes Vito A773HC, Opel Zafira T598OB, Chrysler Voyager C495EP.
- PS 37/37 Transnistrian region, Rezina. At 7:50 a.m., in the center of the city, near to Star Net office, a white Gazelle minibus, r/n P581BB, transported several people. The transport unit has about 10 places. The driver said they were coming from the metallurgical factory of Rabnita.
Restricted access in the polling station for voters not wearing a mask in the context of COVID – 1 case
- PS 11/003 Cimislia, Cimislia. One voter was not allowed to enter the PS because he was not wearing a protective mask; the voter left.
Interruption of the video taping of the electoral procedures during the election day – 6 cases.
- PS 1/156, Chisinau, Ciocana. The camera is not functioning at the PS opening. The PEB Chairperson informed CEC. They communicated that during the day a new camera will be provided.
- PS 1/91, Chisinau, Buiucani. The camera had deficiencies during the PS opening. The camera has technical deficiencies, is out of order, the chairperson called to report it and was informed that someone would come and fix it to continue the video taping.
- PS 1/235, Chisinau, Riscani. The video tapping was started when opening the PS, but the camera works with interruptions, the PEB chairperson being the one who noticed the technical issues. The chairperson called to report it and is trying to remedy the situation.
- PS 33/24 Taraclia, Musaitu. The cameras have not been operational since the PS opening.
- PS 7/59 Cahul, Tataresti. There is a camera installed in the PS, but the recording was not started. The PEB chairperson was notified, she indicated that she forgot to turn it on and started the recording process.
- PS 1/218, Chisinau, Riscani. Only the process of opening the PS was recorded. At 7:21 a.m., the recording stopped. The camera works with interruptions due to technical issues. The PEB chairperson notified that video tapping will be resumed at the closing of the PS.
Electioneering or negative PR within the 100 m perimeter and/or inside the polling station to influence the choice of voters – 3 cases
- PS 37/034 Floresti, Sanatauca. Inside the PS was a board with an inscription denigrating a contender. The Promo-LEX observer alerted the chairperson.
- PS 9/022 Calarasi, Hoginesti. A PPS supporter dressed in the party’s T-shirt showed up at the polling station. The PEB chairperson asked the person to leave the PS.
- PS 1/61, Chisinau, Botanica. A voter, after voting, approached the observers in the PS, asking if they represent a certain contender, asserting that it promised salary increases but nothing has changed.
Presence of advertising materials, posters, election billboards within the range of the polling station (100 meters from the PS premises) – 16 cases.
- PS 15/11 Dubasari, Oxentea. Within 100 meters of the polling station there is a billboard of a contender.
- PS 16/2 Edinet, Edinet. Within 100 meters of the polling station there is a billboard of a contender.
- PS 31/20 Soldanesti, Glinjeni. On the poles, within 100 meters of the polling station there are posters advertising for a contender. They were put up last night, since they weren’t there yesterday. At the request of the PEB chairperson, the posters have been removed.
- PS 1/86, Chisinau, Buiucani. On a pole, at the entrance to the PS, a contender’s electoral poster was spotted.
- PS 13/020 Donduseni, Rediul Mare. Within 80 m from the PS there are A4 posters on poles advertising for a contender.
- PS 19/001, Glodeni, Glodeni. Within 60 m from the PS there is a billboard on a shop’s wall advertising for a contender.
- PS 9/028 Calarasi, Paulesti. Within 100 m from the PS there is a poster advertising for a contender. The PEB chairperson removed the poster.
- PS 4/037 Anenii Noi, Tintareni. Within 100 m from the PS, posters advertising for a contender were spotted, which weren’t removed.
- PS 16/004 Edinet, Edinet. Within 70 m from the PS there is a poster on a shop’s wall advertising for a contender.
- PS 18/001 Floresti, Floresti. Within 100 m from the PS on the premises of a household there is a poster advertising for a contender.
- PS 20/066 Hincesti, Stolniceni. Within 20 m from the PS, on an information board, there are A4 posters advertising for 3 contenders.
- PS 6/038 Briceni. Tetcani. Within 100 m from the PS, posters advertising for a contender were spotted.
- PS 15/8 Dubasari, Marcauti. Within 100 meters of the PS there are advertising materials favouring a contender.
- PS 1/94, Chisinau, Buiucani. Within 100 meters of the polling station, posters were spotted on the electricity poles, advertising for a contender.
- PS 11/010 Cimislia, Cimislia. A shop is located within 100 meters from the PS; A4 leaflets from two contenders are displayed in the shop.
- PS 1/120, Chisinau, Center. Advertising materials in support of a contender are displayed within 100 meters of the polling station, in front of the polling station.
The ballot boxes were not sealed according to the legal procedures/the seals on the ballot boxes were torn/destroyed or were missing – 7 cases.
- PS 36/7 ATUG, Comrat. The stationary ballot box was sealed with 2 seals instead of 4. PEB chairperson was notified but he did not react.
- PS 13/12 Donduseni, Elizavetovca. The stationary ballot box is sealed with 2 seals instead of 4. PEB chairperson said there were not enough seals.
- PS 1/26, Chisinau, Botanica. The stationary ballot boxes were sealed only with 3 seals.
- PS 1/291, Chisinau, Stauceni. The stationary ballot boxes were sealed only with 3 seals.
- PS 1/208, Chisinau, Riscani. The stationary ballot boxes in the PS were sealed only with 2 seals. The PEB chairperson claimed that there was no need to affix more seals. Nonetheless, after mentioning the rule according to which it was mandatory to seal the ballot boxes with 4 seals, the PEB chairperson affixed two more seals on the ballot boxes.
- PS 18/053 Floresti, Putinesti. All three ballot boxes were sealed with 2 seals each, the PEB chairperson said he didn’t have enough seals.
- PS 33/24 Taraclia, Musaitu. There are two ballot boxes with 2 seals each, instead of 4.
Difficulties in the operation of Elections SAIS (suspended operation; situations when Elections SAIS shows that the voter has already voted, but the voter claims he/she didn’t) – 2 cases.
- PS 1/222, Chisinau, Riscani. Starting with 07:20 a.m., Elections SAIS was out of service for 15-20 minutes. The voting process was not stopped, the voters were registered manually and after the deficiencies were eliminated – the data were entered into the system.
- PS 18/002 Floresti, Floresti. Between 7:00-7:38 a.m., Elections SAIS was out of service – lack of internet connection. The problem was solved by a Moldtelecom expert. The voting process was stopped during this period.
Taking pictures of ballot papers, other violations of the secrecy of voting (display of the ballot paper after casting the vote, improper placement of voting booths, which allows to see the voter’s option, etc.) – 8 cases.
- PS 1/98, Chisinau, Buiucani. A voter took a picture of the ballot paper. PEB members did not notice the incident.
- PS 13/12 Donduseni, Elizavetovca. PEB chairperson and secretary are located in a way that allows them to see the voting booths and the voters. They said the space was not enough because the room was small.
- PS 37/019 Causeni, Copanca. The voters were speaking to each other in the voting booths, thus violating the secrecy of voting.
- PS 10/002 Causeni, Causeni. At 7:50 a.m., a voter took a picture of the ballot paper.
- PS 11/001 Cimislia, Cimislia. A voter violated the secrecy of voting, he displayed the ballot paper and the voters within the PS could see who he voted for. The chairperson did not react.
- PS 13/001 Donduseni, Donduseni. A voter took a picture of the ballot paper. The chairperson reacted and the picture was deleted.
- PS 1/136, Chisinau, Centru. A member of PEB, took a picture of the ballot paper after voting. The incident was seen by the observer nominated by a contender, he intervened with a loud voice and asked to delete the picture. The PEB member said that it is was not stipulated anywhere that it prohibited to take a picture of the ballot paper, but the picture was nevertheless deleted. The PEB chairperson said that it was not stipulated anywhere that it is prohibited to take a picture and that the rule is mainly invoked verbally.
- PS 1/121, Chisinau, Centru. A voter took a picture of the ballot paper. A PEB member warned the voter. As a result, the voter deleted the picture.
Failure to comply with COVID-19 protection and prevention measures – 2 cases.
- PS 1/200, Chisinau, Riscani. PEB members do not wear anti-COVID protection supplies. The observer wore the mask on the face and a PEB member got closer to him and told him that COVID was sleeping.
- Transnistrian region, Rascaietii Vechi. Social distancing is not observed by the voters who wait in queue, they do not wear masks.
Unjustified group voting (two or more voters) – 3 cases.
- PS 37/035 Floresti, Sanatauca. Two individuals entered a voting booth at the same time.
- PS 11/024 Calarasi, Gura Galbenei. At 7:45 a.m., two voters entered the voting booth and voted. The PEB chairperson did not react.
- PS 11/001 Cimislia, Cimislia. At 7:11 a.m., two individuals (husband and wife) voted together and the PEB chairperson did not react to this incident.
Other – 1 case:
- PS 11/37 Cimislia, Mihailovca. There is no inscription at the polling station that would indicated that there is a polling station there. The number of the polling station is not displayed, as well.
This press release was prepared as part of the Election Observation Mission for the early Parliamentary Elections of 11 July 2021, conducted by Promo-LEX Association with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the ‘Democracy, Transparency and Responsibility’ Program, of the Council of Europe through ‘Support for civic observation of the 2021 Early Parliamentary Elections in the polling stations set up abroad’ Project, as well as of the Netherlands Embassy Office in Chisinau through ‘Support for informing citizens and civic observation of the 2021 Early Parliamentary Elections in the polling stations set up for voters from the transnistrian region’. ‘Hate speech’ component is supported by Justice and Human Rights Department of Soros Foundation Moldova through ‘Strengthening a platform for the development of human rights activism and education in the Republic of Moldova – stage IV”.
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Inga Stegarescu, Press Officer of Promo-LEX Association
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