Promo-LEX: Observers have reported over 150 cases of organized transport of voters and lines of voters at at least 10 polling stations outside the country

Time: 14.30

The Promo-LEX Observation Mission for the Presidential Elections states with concern that at least 164 cases of organized transport of voters, a growing number of acts of violence and voter intimidation, cases of the unjustified presence of unauthorized people inside or in the vicinity of polling stations, and lines of voters at polling stations abroad have been reported before 2:00 pm.

Promo-LEX states that, up to 12:45 pm, the voter turnout is much bigger than the turnout on November 30, 2014. By 12:45 pm in 2014, 587,930 people had already voted; today, 652,348 people have voted.

According to reports from Promo-LEX observers, the following incidents were reported before 2:00 pm:

The organized transport of voters – at least 164 vehicles.

• PS 41 Anenii Noi. Cases of transporting voters with 12 vehicles (at least 210 people) were reported.
• PS 10 Dubăsari. Cases of transporting voters with 6 vehicles (at least 210 people) were reported, with the representative of a candidate directing traffic.
• PS 1 Dubăsari. A case (45 voters) has been reported from the city of Dubăsari.
• PS 2 Dubăsari. Cases of voter transport with 3 vehicles (at least 100 voters) have been reported.
• PS 3 Criuleni. A minibus has transported about 24 voters two times.
• PS 225 Chișinău. Five private cars have transported 17 people to the PS.
• PS 22 Căușeni. A minibus has transported voters.
• A Promo-LEX mobile team has reported that lines of minibuses and buses are headed from Camenca and Râbnița to vote. About 17 vehicles have been reported transporting voters (more than 250 people).
• From the Territorial Administrative Unit of Transnistria – at least 8 vehicles.
• PS 18 ATUG. Three vehicles.
• PS 4 ATUG. 4 elderly voters were transported to the polling station by a car. The driver of the car waited at the polling station to take the voters home.
• PS 58 Florești. People were transported by 3 minibuses. One of the minibuses made at least 3 trips. Each vehicle took an average of 20 people.
• PS 42 Rezina. At least 60 vehicles. Every 10-15 minutes about 7-8 minibuses came. At 11:20 am the Promo-LEX observer reported at least 50-60 vehicles with a minimum of 8 people in each.
• PS 43 Edineț. At least 8 voters came to vote with a minibus from the neighboring village. They tried to hire a driver to drive them to vote because they came from the neighboring village.
• PS 2 Ungheni. A minibus transported about 10 people.
• PS 44 ATUG. Transport was organized and directed by a candidate’s representative, who had a consultative vote on the PSEB.
• PS 1 Dubăsari. Voters who were transported by buses stated that they had been encouraged to vote by local administrators.
• PS 39 Strășeni. A minibus, arranged by a representative of a candidate, transported approximately 7 people.
• PS 45 ATUG. Transport was organized by a mayor using public money.
• PS 32 Căușeni. There were 24 vehicles with license plates from the Transnistrian region.
• There is a coordinated flow of vehicles coming from Tiraspor, Slobozia, and Bender.
• PS 24 Căușeni. The organized transport of voters with cars.
• PS 41 Anenii Noi. Three vehicles brought about 60 people.
• PS 225 Chișinău. Some automobiles transported about 25 voters from the Transnistrian region starting at 11:00 am.
• PS 10 Dubăsari. 5 vans transported voters.
• SV 5 Dubăsari. A minibus with license plates from the Transnistrian region brought about 15 people.

Restricted access or the obstruction of the free observation process in the polling station – 11 cases. Some examples follow:

• PS 1, 237 Chișinău. Promo-LEX observers were prevented from freely observing the polling station.
• PS 6 Criuleni. The PS is very small, about 20 m². Half of the building is damaged. There was not enough space for the observer.

Ballot boxes were not sealed according to the legal procedures. Tearing/ damage or absence of seals on ballot boxes – 16 cases. Some examples follow:

• PS 25 Florești. The mobile ballot box is not sealed in accordance with regulations.

The presence of publicity materials, advertisements, and electoral billboards within the perimeter of polling stations (within 100 meters of the local precinct) – 14 cases. Some examples follow: PS 128, 278 Chișinău; PS 23 Căușeni.

The unjustified presence of unauthorized people on the premises or within 50 meters of the polling station – 18 cases. Some examples follow:

• PS 2 Edineț. At the entrance of the PS there were 3 people discussing how to vote. Members of the PSEB asked them to leave the area of the polling station, so they moved 30 m away and continued the discussion.
• PS 10 Șoldănești. At a distance of just over 100 meters an MP and the car of another MP were observed.
• PS 180 Chișinău. A person introduced himself as a parliamentary official and asked to check the security of the PS. The request was refused.
• PS 278 Chișinău. A supporter of a candidate stood next to the ballot box and argued with a member of the PSEB.
• PS 67 ATUG. The mayor stood within the perimeter of the PS and monitored the turnout.

Rumors, attempts, and even cases of material or monetary compensation being offered to voters within the perimeter / in the vicinity of polling stations with the purpose of influencing voters – 10 cases. Some examples follow:

• PS 22 ATUG. A car—from which voters were served wine—was parked in front of the PS.
• PS 58 Florești. The Promo-LEX observer reported that voters received 200 lei if they showed the „Voted” stamp on their ID cards.
• PS 27 Bălți. A voter tried to photograph his ballot. After he was stopped, he told one of the PSEB members that he needed the photograph in order to be compensated.
• PS 82 Chișinău. A candidate’s observer had a list of voters. Some voters told him to include them in this list; he went outside with some voters, while others were entered into this list.

Electioneering or black PR within the perimeter and/ or on the premises of a polling station with the purpose of influencing voters – 10 cases.

• PS 25 Hâncești. A voter publicly announced who he voted for. The president of the PSEB gave him a warning.
• PS 23 Căușeni. In front of the PS a citizen campaigned for a candidate.
• PS 163 Chișinău. A candidate’s observer campaigned inside the PS. At the entrance of the PS, the observer said to the citizens, „I believe I know who you need to vote for” before saying, „Let me give you a few cigarettes.”
• PS 265 Chișinău. A citizen gave out a candidate’s calendars in front of the PS.
• PS 95 Chișinău. A voter approached another voter in the voting booth and talked with him.
• PS 8 Călărași. A 30-year-old man campaigned for a candidate in the neighborhood of a PS. The Promo-LEX observer tried to take photos to document the case, but the people left.
• PS 58 Orhei. A candidate’s observer campaigned, and the PSEB President gave him a warning.
• SV 7 Dubăsari. Within 100 m of a PS there was a grocery store in which about 6-7 people campaigned for a candidate.

Acts of violence or intimidation of voters or other people – 13 cases. Some examples follow:

• PS 69 Orhei. At 8:55 am, the mayor punched an observer of one of the candidates in the face with his fist and tore off his clothes. The reason for the incident was that the observer had photographed a minibus transporting people to the PS. The minibus was parked 15 m from the PS. The mayor ran off from the scene.
• PS 43 Hâncești. An observer approached the PS in order to vote and he approached a member of the PSEB. There was a dispute between them. The observer did not present his accreditation, which he had in his pocket. A report was filed explaining the incident and the police were called.
• PS 119 Chișinău. A voter intimidated a member of the PSEB because he was not in the main voting lists of the PS. The voter sold his apartment and was therefore on the main list of another PS.
• PS 136 Chișinău. A voter intimidated a member of the PSEB because he was not on the main list of that PS. The incident was resolved with the help of the police.
• PS 180 Chișinău. A conflict was reported when two voters wanted to vote in the same voting booth and PSEB members disallowed it.
• PS 247 Chișinău. A member of a political party intimidated PSEB members and photographed the Promo-LEX observer, then posting the photograph on Facebook.
• PS 95 Chișinău. Two voters were photographed by an observer while they were both voting in the same voting booth.
• PS 67 ATUG. The mayor was inside the PS and intimidated the voters, shouting that they should vote for a particular candidate.
• PS 247 Chișinău. A voter intimidated a member of the PSEB because the PSEB member asked him to be quiet.
• PS 23 Chișinău. The Promo-LEX observer was intimidated by PSEB members because he had told them that some voters had voted without being entered in SAIS Elections.

Problems in the functioning of SAIS Elections (the suspension of function; situations in which SIAS Elections indicates that a voter has voted, but the voter maintains that he/ she has not voted) – 8 cases. Some examples follow: PS 50 Florești; PS 24 Criuleni; PS 180, 231, 237, 60 Chișinău; PS 59 Sângerei; PS 60 Chișinău; PS 24 Căușeni.

Problems in the electoral lists (discrepancies in addresses; deceased voters; signatures under the names of other people) – 14 cases. Some examples follow: PS 5 Fălești, PS 34 Bălți; PS 25 Chișinău, PS 87 Chișinău, PS 296, 38, 77,120, 85, 123, 223, 119, 90 Chișinău; PS 2 Florești.

The photographing of ballots – 31 cases. Some examples follow: PS 37 Ialoveni; PS 38 Nisporeni, PS 1 Leova; PS 66 Orhei; PS 302, PS 299, PS 33, PS 120, PS 232, PS 302, PS 111, PS 115, PS 119, PS 123, PS 126, PS 148 Chișinău; PS 2 Edineț; PS 7 Ialoveni; PS 38 Nisporeni; PS 7 Dubăsari.

Problems with the electricity – 6 cases. Some examples follow: PS 5 Călărași, PS 28 Sângerei, PS 39, 24 Căușeni, PS 13 Ștefan Vodă, PS 1 Edineț.

Lines/ Queues at PS in other countries – at least 10 cases. Some examples follow:

• PS 318,319 Moscow, Russia
• PS 355 Bologna, Italy
• PS 325 Dublin, Ireland
• PS 330 Bucharest, Romania
• PS 3 Paris, France
• PS 336 London, England
• PS 359 Mestre, Italy
• PS 375 Verona, Italy
• PS 366 Parma, Italy

Voting with unfolded ballots / disregard for the secrecy of the vote – 5 cases. Some examples follow:

• PS 18 ATUG. Voters were encouraged by PSEB members to not fold their ballots. Their choice could therefore be seen, even inside the ballot box.
• PS 4 Leova. The PSEB members administering voting inside the prison allowed voters to not fold their ballots.
• PS 25 Florești. Voters did not fold their ballots and their choice was visible through the ballot box. A Promo-LEX observer brought this to the attention of the PSEB members, who stated that it was not obligatory to fold ballots.
• PS 394 Brașov. The secrecy of the vote was violated by two TV channels, Brasov TV and Digi 24 TV, which filmed the placement of ballots in the ballot box even though the voter’s choice was visible.
• PS 10 Basarabeasca. A voter showed his ballot to a member of the PSEB after the „Voted” stamp had been applied.

Activism and campaigning by an NGO with accredited observers

Observers campaigned for a particular candidate within the perimeter of polling stations: PS 71 Chișinău, PS 41 Ialoveni, PS 16 Florești.

Instances of voting with expired or incomplete identity cards – 10 cases.

Some examples follow: PS 8 Criuleni; PS 24 Hâncești; PS 101, 297, 181, 221, 115 Chișinău; PS 26, 40 Bălți; PS 4 Căușeni.

Other incidents reported by Promo-LEX observers:

• PS 15 Șoldănești. The „Voted” stamps were not in the voting booths but on the table of the PSEB members. The stamps were given to voters and the voter had to bring them back. This was justified by the fear that the seals might be stolen.
• PS 22 Căușeni. Representatives of an election candidate directed the voting process in the PS (they checked the voters at the PSEB tables, directed them to voting booths, and coordinated the voting).
• PS 22 Cimișlia. 6 requests to vote at home were accepted without medical certificates.
• PS 191 Chișinău. A voter placed his ballot in the mobile ballot box. The president of the PSEB took the ballot out of the mobile ballot box and placed it in the stationary ballot box.
• PS 116 Chișinău. One voter left his ballot inside the voting booth. The ballot was placed in the stationary ballot box by the president of the PSEB..

The Promo-LEX Observation Mission consists of 42 long-term observers who monitor the electoral process in all constituencies of the Republic of Moldova during 31 August – 30 November 2016. On Election Day, Promo-LEX sent a short-term observer to each polling station in the country, involving a total of 1981 observers. The Mission monitors the electoral process in 36 polling stations open abroad. The observers involved in the monitoring process signed the Code of Conduct of the Promo-LEX Independent National Observer, committing to act promptly, in good faith and in a non-partisan manner. The Promo-LEX EOM will also perform a Parallel Vote Tabulation in all polling stations. The activity of all observers is coordinated by a central team consisting of 37 persons.

The activity carried out by Promo-LEX EOM and the “Come to Vote” campaign is currently funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the British Embassy in Chisinau, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Council of Europe. The opinions presented in the public reports of Promo-LEX belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the donors’ view.

For more details, contact: Tatiana Pascovschi, Communication Officer of Promo-Lex Election Observation Mission: GSM 060804022, e-mail: [email protected]