The parallel vote count in the municipality of Bălți done by the Observation Mission of Promo-LEX Association confirms the preliminary results made public by the Central Election Commission (CEC). Nicolai Grigorișin, an independent candidate for mayor, gained 7,148 votes (84.77% of the ballot), while his rival Nicolae Chirilciuc, of the Party “Moldova’s Patriots”, won 1,284 votes (15.23%). A large number of ballots were declared invalid – 1,786, IPN reports.

The winner of a runoff vote is considered the candidate who obtains the largest number of votes, regardless of the number of people who vote in elections. In the mayoral elections held in the municipality of Bălți on December 19, the voter turnout was only 9.98% (10,218). This seems to be lowest voter turnout in the history of elections in the Republic of Moldova, noted Promo-LEX.

According to the observers of Promo-LEX, the monitored polling stations were opened and closed according to rules. The vote count done by the electoral bodies was generally quick and calm. However, in one of the eight monitored stations (No. 045), an observer interfered in the count and the police intervened to calm things down. At another stations (No. 051) the members of the electoral bureau didn’t initially fill out the special vote count form before producing the vote report, as the procedure requires.

The Association reiterates that the Electoral Code provisions concerning the organization of the runoff vote should be clarified. In Bălți, the runoff was held after the Central Election Commission earlier decided to suspend the elections set for December 5. The decision was taken after an electoral contender who violated the legal provisions concerning election campaign funding was removed from the competition.