The police registered at least four cases of photographing the ballot paper in the first hours after the opening of polling stations, in Chisinau, Comrat, Șoldănești and Telenești. The authorities warn that such actions represent a violation that, according to the law, is punishable by fine, IPN reports.
“We were notified of a number of cases when the ballots with the voter’s option were posted in the public space. We remind that such manifestations are liable to fines and I call on both our colleagues from polling stations and citizens not to breach voting secrecy, not to make the choice marked on the ballot paper public. Each time, the initiation of contravention proceedings against those who commit this illegality will be requested,” said the chairwoman of the Central Election Commission Angelica Caraman.
For its part, the General Police Inspectorate reported two cases of damaging of ballots, in Drochia and Comrat. In Drochia, a case of presence of several people in the voting booth was identified. In Fălești, a case of illegal transportation of voters was reported.
Five other incidents were identified, including the presence of an inebriated person in the polling station, conflicts, hooliganism. In Soroca, a case of unauthorized placing of electoral materials was reported. Four cases of campaigning were recorded in Orhei, Briceni and Râșcani.
Under the Electoral Code, political campaigning on election day is strictly forbidden. During this period, election contenders and referendum campaigners cannot appear in television or radio shows. Also, the local public administration and advertising broadcasters are obliged to remove the electoral advertising materials. The ban does not apply to information that was already posted on the internet.
According to the Contravention Code, the continuation of campaigning on election day by the media, election competitors and citizens is an administrative offense punished with a fine of 2,000 to 3,000 lei in the case of an individual and of 5,000 to 7,500 lei in the case of legal entities.
