Socialist MP Vasile Bolea and the representative of electoral competitor Igor Dodon at the Central Election Commission Vadim Filipov filed a new application to increase the number of polling stations in Russia to the CEC on November 2. They asked to raise the number of polling places in Russia up to 159 so as to ensure the constitutional right to vote of all the Moldovans who work or live there, IPN reports.
Vasile Bolea told the press that according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, there are over 470,000 Moldovans in Russia. The real figure stands yet at about 800,000. Under the electoral norms, not more than 3,000 ballots can be distributed to a polling place. Therefore, 159 polling places should be established so that all the Moldovans in Russia could vote in the November 13 runoff elections.
The Party of Socialists submitted a similar request to the CEC in September. Vasile Bolea said the government should react swiftly given that only ten days remained until the runoff elections. He noted an attempt was made to hinder the Moldovans in St. Petersburg from voting by modifying the address of polling stations on Election Day.
