Over 2.8 million Moldovan people (2 816 377 according to electoral rolls) with the right to vote are expected to choose Moldova’s next President for a four-year-term on October 30. Polling stations work between 7am and 9pm, IPN reports.
There were established 2,081 polling places, 100 of which abroad. A number of 3 132 427 ballots were printed for the presidential elections, with more than 2 million of these being in the Romanian language.
On Moldova’s territory, the citizens can exercise the right to vote with the identity card, with the accompanying loose-leaf, or with a temporary identity card. Today, all the document issuing sections of the state-run Information Resources Center “Registru” work from 7am until 9pm and will ensure the issuing of temporary identity cards.
The Moldovans who are outside the country’s borders can vote with the passport of the citizen of Moldova or, in case of sailors, with the sailor’s permit. These can vote with the expired passport on condition that this contains the personal identification code that the passports issued before 2000 do not include.
The persons who, for health reasons, cannot go to polling places can ask to be allowed to vote at the place of stay today as well. The applications for the mobile ballot box are accepted by 3pm and must be accompanied by a medical certificate. Only the persons with disabilities can file applications to vote at the place of stay, including in verbal form.
The elections are monitored by 3,202 persons accredited as national observers on behalf of 20 organizations, 106 of whom oversee the election process at polling stations established outside Moldova’s borders. Also, the CEC accredited 562 persons as international observers on behalf of 52 international institutions.
The voters will choose the President out of nine candidates. The stamp ‘withdrawn’ will be put against the name of Democratic Party’s candidate Marian Lupu. The nine candidates are:
Candidate of the Liberal Party Mihai Ghimpu;
Candidate of the European People’s Party of Moldova Iurie Leanca;
Candidate of the Political Party “Our Party” Dumitru Chubashenko;
Candidate of the Party “Action and Solidarity” Maia Sandu (joint candidate);
Candidate of the Party of Socialists Igor Dodon;
Independent candidate Silvia Radu;
Independent candidate Maia Laguta;
Candidate of The Right Ana Gutu;
Independent candidate Valeriu Giletski.
Political campaigning on the election day is banned. No electoral propaganda or covering of the electoral campaign is allowed. Also, the electoral competitors cannot appear in TV or radio programs. Dissemination of electoral propaganda on the mentioned days by the mass media, election runners and people is an administrative offense that is punished with a fine of 500 to 1,000 lei in the case of private individuals and of 2,000 to 2,500 lei in the case of electoral competitors.
