The Venice Commission has given its opinion for the Moldovan authorities to implement the law on the partial implementation of the postal voting, which is to be applied for the first time in this autumn’s election, IPN reports, with reference to yesterday’s press release of the Venice Commission.

Any extension of the possibility for the voters to cast their ballots is welcome and this is the goal achieved of the legislative amendment in question.

On procedural issues, the Venice Commission recalls that stability of electoral law is an essential element of legal certainty. In the present case, due the limited scope of the amendments adopted less than five months before the next elections, the principle of stability has not been violated. The Venice Commission notes however the Moldovan context of frequent changes to the electoral system and their lack of transparency, which can affect voter confidence in the electoral system, as well as the hasty process for the adoption of the Law. It also recalls that every effort must be made to ensure that the amendments are properly implemented.

The Venice Commission recommended that the authorities of the Republic of Moldova should ensuring that any future amendments to electoral legislation are adopted by broad consensus after extensive public consultations with all relevant stakeholders, well in advance of elections, thus ensuring confidence in the electoral process.

The experts noted that if the trial is successful, postal voting abroad should be given a perennial character, thus ensuring its stability and legal certainty, and applying it to all countries where postal voting is safe and reliable.

IPN notes that the law allows implementing the postal voting in this autumn’s presidential election in the U.S., Canada, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.