Moldovan emigrants in US seek more polling places in American cities

The Association of Moldovan Emigrants in the USA are asking the Moldovan authorities for more polling places in addition to the station planned to be opened at the Moldovan Embassy in the United States for the April legislative election, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The option to vote in the Moldovan parliamentary elections at the Moldovan Embassy in Washington DC alone is unrealizable due to the long travel distances and high costs involved”, the Association said in a letter sent to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The Association insists mobile poling stations should be opened in the US cities where most of Moldovans reside, in particular Springfield, New York, Raleigh, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and Sacramento. “The Association is ready to facilitate the organization of elections in other cities with local volunteers under the jurisdiction of the Moldovan Embassy in the US”, the letter reads. According to the Association, there are some 40,000 to 45,000 Moldovans who reside permanently in the US. In response, CEC chairman Eugen Stirbu has told Info-Prim Neo that only 23 persons in the United States voted in the 2005 elections. “The legislation of the Republic of Moldova stipulates that the citizens who are abroad on election day may vote only at consulates or embassies. There is just one embassy in the United States, and according to sources in the embassy, 25 persons have asked for information on the matter”, said Stirbu.