In polling stations abroad, ballot boxes were borrowed from local authorities

Promo Lex Assocition observed numerous infringements at the polling stations abroad. According to a press release, a worrying sign was the presences of forces of order near some polling stations. Some of the stations were closed too late and many procedure infringements were observed, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Promo Lex, 15 policemen were standing near the polling station nr 338 in Moscow when it opened. Likewise, 6 cops were near the voting place within the Moldovan Embassy in Athens. In Spain, a police car patrolled near the polling place. In Torino, Italy, the polling station was opened near the local police HQ. In most cases, the presence of policemen was required by electoral staffs to assure order and security. In Madrid, the reason was the danger of terrorist attack. Promo Lex claim station nr 323 in Maestre, Italy, closed one hour and a quarter late. The electoral staff met for the first time only in the morning of the election day. The voting started late in Milano, Madrid, Santander and Odessa. In Greece, some places in Italy and Russia, as well as in Toulouse and Odessa, members of the personnel were absent when the voting began. Often, staff members showed incomplete knowledge of voting procedures. In Padova, Italy, there were 2 cases when people voted with the identity card. Most of the voters were included in additional lists, the main ones being flawed. In some stations, there were no main lists at all. This happened in Iraklion, Greece, and in the two stations in Mestre, Italy. In Russia, ballot papers for Domodedovo station were sent to Mojaisk and vice versa. There was another confusion regarding the electoral inventory for polling stations in Bucharest and Barcelona. Most of the polling places in Italy lacked ballot boxes and used random cartons instead. A similar problem occurred in Greece, but local authorities came to help and offered voting booths and transparent ballot boxes. The ballot abroad was monitored by 80 observers delegated within the Program of Supporting Democracy, implemented by the EU and the Council of Europe.