November 3, 2019
Time: 2:30 p.m
The Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the general local and new parliamentary elections of October 20 (November 3) 2019 informs that by 1.30 pm it received from its observers 88 incident reports. The present press release includes 57 incidents processed by the central team of Promo-LEX Mission between 9.00 and 1.30 pm.
In the context of the second round of general local elections, the Promo-LEX Observation Mission finds:
Obstruction / Limitation of the observation process – 2 cases.
- PS 13/13 and 13/14 Donduseni, Frasin. Observers of the Promo-LEX mobile team suspect that their car was tracked by unidentified persons. When the mobile team visited the commune of Frasin, it was followed by a car – a minibus of VW Crafter model, reg. no. MLN 754, with 3 men in it. The man driving the minibus took pictures of the mobile team’s car, then made a phone call. 30 min. later, the vehicle following the mobile team was seen around the PS 13/13.
- PS 12/5, Criuleni, Balabanesti. Observers have been located in such a place that they cannot observe the entire voting process. The place assigned for them is behind a wall, from where they can observe only the voting in the booth and the insertion of ballots into the ballot box. Thus, the activity of operators and PEB members is not visible. To observe the whole process, observers have to be standing directly near the desk of PEB members.
Presence of advertising materials, posters, electoral panels within the polling station (100 meters from the polling station) – 10 cases.
- PS 1/262 Chisinau, Durlesti. There is an electoral poster 50-60 m away from the PS.
- PS 13/1 Donduseni. A party newspaper with the candidate’s image is placed on the information panel within 100 meters of the polling station.
- PS 24/6 Ocnita, Otaci. At a distance of approx. 70 m, there is a 3 x 6 m billboard of a competitor installed.
- PS 34/26 Telenesti, Leuseni. An electoral poster promoting a candidate is displayed in front of the polling station.
- PS 1/303, Chisinau, Tohatin. An electoral panel has been noticed at a distance of about 35 m from the PS.
- PS 1/270, Chisinau, Singera. A banner promoting a candidate has been noticed on the wall of a store within 100 m from the PS.
- PS 32/27, Stefan Voda, Slobozia. A banner promoting a candidate has been noticed within a 100 m from the PS.
- PS 4/2, Anenii Noi. There is a candidate’s banner within 100 m from the PS.
- PS 25/55, Orhei, Peresecina. At least 10 electoral posters have been noticed within 100 m from the PS.
- PS 26/16, Rezina, Gordinesti. Electoral posters of a candidate have been noticed on the electricity pillar within 100 m from the polling station.
Unjustified presence of unauthorized persons in the PS or within 100 m from it – 13 cases.
- PS 31/29 Soldanesti, Samascani. One of the candidates spent more than 20 minutes around PS at a distance of about 70 m.
- PS 28/27 Singerei, Copaceni. The president of the territorial organization of a party that has nominated a candidate is standing in front of the PS at a distance of about 10 m and discussing with the voters.
- PS 5/2, Bessarabeasca. Several unauthorized persons were standing at the exit of the PS, where one of them was recording everything on her phone, and two others were asking voters if they received any rewards for voting. Subsequently, after being reprimanded, they changed their location (about 500 m away from the PS), continuing their activity.
- PS 7/41, Cahul, Giurgiulesti. The candidates are within 100 m from the PS.
- PS 32/27, Stefan Voda, Slobozia. Groups of supporters of both candidates gathered around the PS and discussed.
- PS 11/38, Cimislia, Porumbrei. A candidate is near the PS (approximately 50 m), discussing with voters.
- PS 32/25, Stefan Voda, Rascaieti. A candidate entered the PS where he spent about 8 minutes, sat next to the observers and spoke to them.
- PS 1/278, Chisinau, Vatra. At 11:48 am, the mayor invited one of the PEB members to the entrance of the PS and asked about voter turnout. In response to the information communicated by the PEB members, he stated that voters should be mobilized. Shortly after, the mayor left.
- PS 24/6 Ocnita, Otaci. One person is standing at a distance of 50 m from the polling station. The woman was holding an A4 sheet of paper with a list of people on it. Several people approached the woman to check their names in the above list.
- PS 1/265 Chisinau, Durlesti. Between 8 and 11 am, there was a Volvo with two people in it stationed at a distance of about 10-20 m from PS. The Promo-LEX observer announced the PEB president, who approached the car and informed them that they are not allowed to be on the territory of polling station. One of the persons, continued to stay within 30 m of the polling station, while the car left. The PEB president announced the Police.
- PS 34/26 Telenesti, Leuseni. Between 11.40-12.40, a candidate was in less than 100 m from the PS discussing with residents.
- PS 13/13 Donduseni, Frasin. A close relative of one of the candidates spent at least 30 min. at a distance of 20 meters from the PS.
- PS 22/12, Leova, Baiuș. A candidate was near the PS, talking to voters. A policeman was present at the scene, but did not intervene.
Incidents involving the use of video recording camera in the PS – 1 case.
- PS 33/21, Taraclia, Samurza. The video recording camera has not been disconnected since the opening of the PS and is still filming the voting process.
Unjustified group voting (there are 2 and more people in the voting booths) – 2 cases.
- PS 1/176, Chisinau, Ciocana District. Two people, husband and wife, voted in the same voting booth. The PEB president did not react.
- PS 1/276, Chisinau, Durlesti. Two elderly people approached the voting booths, one voted for the other on the grounds that he was visually challenged. The PEB president canceled the ballots and the voters were given other ballots.
Electoral or adverse campaigning within 100 m and / or in the precinct of the polling station to influence the voters’ choice – 2 cases
- PS 9/15, Calarasi, Dereneu. A mayoral candidate is carrying out electoral campaigning within 100 m from the PS.
- PS 1/194, Chisinau, Ciocana District. A voter, who exercised his right to vote, suggested to another one how to vote. The PEB president intervened promptly and the case was settled.
Rumors, attempts or even cases of material or monetary reward offered to voters within 100 m from the polling station to influence the voters’ choice – 1 case.
- PS 9/12, Calarasi, Bravicea. There are rumors that within 100 m from the PS, in an adjacent store, alcoholic beverages are offered free of charge.
Deficiencies in the operation of SIAS Elections System (suspension of operation; situations when SIAS Elections system indicates that the voter voted while he claims not to) – 8 cases.
- PS 18/34 Floresti, Unchitesti. Only one operator works in the PS.
- PS 18/20 Florești, Cuhurestii de Jos. Only one operator works in the PS.
- PS 1/135 Chisinau, Center District. The SIAS Elections system did not work for about 10 min. Voters were registered manually on a sheet of paper and subsequently their data were entered into the database.
- PS 1/96 Chisinau, Buiucani District. The SIAS Elections system did not work for about 15 minutes because of poor Internet connection.
- PS 1/162, Chisinau, Ciocana District. At 10.06 am, the SIAS Elections system did not work for about 12 min. The voting process was suspended until the technical deficiency was removed.
- PS 1/135 Chisinau, Center District. 895 voters have been entered in the SIAS Elections system, while according to the main voters’ lists, the total number of voters is 1895.
- PS 16/25 Edinet, Cipeleuți. Starting with 11:10, the SIAS Elections system did not work for about 10- 15 min.
- PS 1/162, Chisinau, Ciocana District. The voting process was suspended from 13.30 to 13.37, because there was no Internet connection and the SIAS Elections system did not work. The PEB president requested technical assistance.
Deficiencies in the voters’ lists (discrepancies between addresses; deceased voters on the lists; signatures instead of others) – 3 cases.
- PS 1/57 Chisinau, Botanica District. Several people are registered at the domicile of a voter. The problem also appeared in the parliamentary elections of 24.02.2019.
- PS 1/19 Chisinau, Botanica District. The voter did not find himself on the voters’ lists, although he has his domicile within the respective polling station, he was included on the additional lists.
- PS 1/262 Chisinau, Durlesti. Five voters were included on additional lists because they were not on the main lists. They are in the SIAS Elections system, but the street number is not mentioned.
Photographing of the ballot paper, other violations of the secret of voting (dispaying the ballot with the vote cast, defective location of the voting booths that makes it possible to see the voter’s option, etc.) – 2 cases
- PS 34/3, Telenesti. At 9.30 a voter photographed the ballot.
- PS 1/302, Chisinau, Stauceni. After voting, a voter photographed the ballot. At the request of PEB members, the photo was deleted.
Acts of violence or intimidation of voters or other persons – 1 case.
PS 5/2, Bessarabeasca. The observer of a competitor behaved aggressively towards the PEB members because the video camera was disconnected after filming the opening procedures in the PS.
Failure of power supply – 2 cases.
- PS 32/23, Stefan Voda, Viisoara. At 11:53, a power cut in the PS was reported. The voters are registered by the operators manually on a piece of paper. As a result, a line of about 15 people was formed.
- PS 32/22, Stefan Voda, Purcari. At 11:53, a power cut in the PS was reported. The voters are registered by the operators manually on a piece of paper. As a result, a line was formed.
Ballot boxes have not been secured in compliance with the legal procedures / broken / deteriorated or absence of seals on the ballot boxes – 7 cases.
- PS 11/24, Cimislia, Gura Galbenei. Initially, the mobile ballot box was not secured, the seal was applied only at the time of departure (approximately at 10 o’clock). 74 requests for voting at the place of residence were registered.
- PS 4/3, Anenii Noi. Two of the 3 stationary ballot boxes were secured with only 3 seals.
- PS 1/91 Chisinau, Buiucani District. The stationary ballot boxes were secured with only 3 seals. The PEB president reasoned that there are not enough seals.
- PS 4/40, Anenii Noi, Varnita. One of the stationary ballot boxes was not sealed, being kept near the chair of the PEB president.
- PS 4/10, Anenii Noi, Bulboaca. There are 3 ballot boxes that are not sealed (kept under the desk of PEB members).
- PS 4/10, Anenii Noi, Bulboaca. There are 3 ballot boxes that are not sealed (kept under the desk of PEB members).
PS 1/290 Chisinau. Budesti. There are three stationary ballot boxes in the PS, but only one was sealed.
Non-compliant use of ballot papers – 1 case.
- PS 1/108 Chisinau, Buiucani District. A voter tore the ballot and then introduced it into the ballot box. Following this incident, he had a tough talk with PEB members. The PEB president prepared a report on the case.
Other incidents – 2 cases
- PS 1/234, Chisinau, Riscani District. A person claimed to be representative of Accent TV and asked to see the list of voters, who had requested to vote at the place of residence in the 1st round. Given that the PEB did not have the list, the representative of a competitor (from the PS) submitted a complaint against the actions of the PEB president, demanding to draw up the respective list and to ensure the citizens who requested to vote at the place of residence with the right to vote (requests submitted before the first round).
- PS 1/299, Chisinau, Stauceni. PEB members have already filled in some rubrics of the vote counting report and signed it, and will eventually include the figures.
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]