The electoral period is the period between the day the election date is made known and the day the final election results are confirmed by the competent bodies, as it is provided in the Election Code. The election campaign is the period during which the election runners stage activities to persuade the people to vote for them. This starts when the electoral competitor is registered by the Central Election Commission (CEC). In the case of presidential elections, an equal period of 30 days before the elections was set for all the runners.

Asked by IPN to explain the actions typical of the two periods, CEC member Andrei Volentir said different measures to prepare for elections are taken in the electoral period by a number of state electoral subjects, such as the CEC. Among the preparatory actions are the constitution of electoral districts and verification of electoral registers. In the period, the initiative groups are registered and these collect signatures and then the candidates are registered.

According to Andrei Volentir, in the electoral period the nominated candidates have the right to disseminate information about themselves, but cannot campaign yet. The election campaign prior to the October 30, 2016 presidential elections starts on September 30. For example, the aspirants can resort to persuading actions to collect the signatures they need in their favor, including to set up collection points, to travel to communities to meet with people and to spread leaflets about their qualities. But these activities must not be accompanied by calls to vote for them.

A difference between the two periods is the fact that during the electoral period the candidates can speak about their own qualities, while in the election campaign they can also speak about their opponents. A number of methods of communication with voters are allowed during the campaign, such as meetings with voters, concerts, debates and posters. Also, the candidates can launch promotional videos containing calls to vote for them.