Promo-LEX Observation Mission presents the number of incidents on the second-round election day, reported by static observers from the sample of 608 polling stations, and the number of incidents extrapolated nationally. The main findings with regards to opening and closing the polling stations (PSs), the voting process and incidents reported by observers on the election day are presented, as well as an analysis of the outcomes of vote tabulation done by Promo-LEX OM.
A number of 251 incidents were reported after processing all of the reports received from short-term observers (STOs), appointed in the 608 polling stations from the sample. On the other hand, the estimated number of incidents extrapolated nationally (on the basis of the sample of 608 PSs) is 734, by 489 incidents more compared to the estimates for the first round of election.
It is important to highlight the voters’ civic activism, who showed up to vote even amidst the pandemic in greater numbers than for the 2016 election. Especially the people who voted in the polling stations abroad stood out. Unfortunately, the civil activism of Diaspora voters was tarnished by the insufficient number of ballot papers in some polling stations. Though 5000 ballot papers were allocated to each polling station, at least 6 of them ran out of ballot papers before voting end time. In this context, Promo-LEX Association urges authorities and politicians to introduce alternative voting measures.
During the election day, the voting process was organised efficiently in the monitored polling stations. At the same time, Election SAIS was occasionally out of order. The electoral process in the transnistrian region was characterised especially by suspicious of vote buying and organised transportation of voters. The vote secrecy was impacted significantly by the high incidence of people taking pictures of their ballot papers. The observation was affected by isolated cases of Promo-LEX observers intimidation by the Police and electoral officials. Overall, votes were counted in a quick and calm manner.
For more details on the recorded incidents please see the attached PDF presentation.
The outcomes of quick vote counting for the position of President of the Republic of Moldova, carried out by Promo-LEX OM on the basis of protocols collected from PEBs, confirm the preliminary CEC results, within the error margin of +-1.8% of the sample.
The Observation Mission for the Elections of the President of the Republic of Moldova on 1 (15) November 2020 is conducted by Promo-LEX Association with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) via the ‘Democracy, Transparency and Accountability’ Program, the Good Governance Department of Soros Foundation-Moldova under ‘Monitoring the Presidential Elections of 1 November 2020’ Project, and the Council of Europe under ‘Support for civic observation of 2020 Presidential Election in polling stations abroad’. ‘Hate speech’ component is supported by Justice and Human Rights Department of Soros Foundation-Moldova under ‘Consolidation of a platform for the development of activism and education in the area of human rights in Moldova – stage IV’ Project.
The translation and dissemination of this report was financially supported by the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), which is financially supported by the European Union and funds by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, including its ifa funding program zivik.
If there are any discrepancies between the text in Romanian and its translation, the provisions formulated in Romanian shall prevail.
For more information, please contact:
Inga Stegarescu, Press Officer of Promo-LEX Association
GSM: 069 26 96 84;
E-mail: [email protected].