The challenges concerning the organization and holding of elections are applications to annul or review an act, a decision or actions. These can be filed by voters and electoral competitors that challenge the actions and decisions of electoral offices and councils in the superior electoral bodies and in courts of law.
The challenge will contain the description of the facts invoked as alleged violations, proofs, the legal reason, the demands, signature and identification data of the person who submits it. For example, if the voter is prevented from freely exercising his electoral rights by violence, swindle, threats, substitution or any other way, this can submit a challenge to the higher electoral body and to court.
The challenges regarding the covering of the election campaign by broadcasters are examined by the Broadcasting Coordination Council, while the challenges concerning the print media are dealt with by the court of law. The decisions over challenges taken by the electoral bodies and the Council can be appealed to court.
The actions/inaction and decisions of the electoral bodies and the actions/inaction of the election runners can be challenged in the electoral body within three calendar days of the taking of the action/identification of the inaction or adoption of the decision. The challenges about the actions and decisions of the Central Election Commission are submitted to the Chisinau Appeals Court.
The challenges about the actions and decisions of the district electoral councils and of the offices of polling places are examined within three calendar days of the submission, but not later than the election day. The challenges concerning the actions/inaction of electoral competitors are dealt with within five calendar days of the submission, but not later than the election day. The challenges filed to courts of law on the election day are examined the same day, while those regarding the electoral body’s decision concerning the election results are examined by the court simultaneously with the confirmation of the legality and validation of the outcome of elections.
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The IPN series “I want to know ABOUT ELECTIONS” is designed to explain notions, terms and practices related to the presidential election process.
