The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, by a letter addressed to the president of the Central Election Commission on May 25, proposed establishing a higher number of polling stations abroad than in the presidential elections held last year, IPN reports.
According to Aureliu Ciocoi, the Ministry starts from the fact that the number of polling stations aboard cannot be lower than in the presidential elections of November 2020. Traditionally, voter mobilization at the presidential elections is much higher than at the parliamentary elections. However, the Ministry takes into account the possibility of doubling the number of polling stations where over 5,000 citizens voted, where the voting time at polling stations was extended or where the ballots were used up before the normal voting time expired.
“We want all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova who want to exercise the constitutional right to vote to be able to do this in conditions of safety, by obeying the sanitary and public order norms in the country of residence,” stated Aureliu Ciocoi.
He noted that the Ministry agreed the budget for organizing the elections at 5.5 million lei. The figure was communicated to the CEC. If the number of polling places is increased, the sum will change.
Aureliu Ciocoi called on the diaspora to work on the electoral bureaus of polling stations, saying that given the financial difficulties experienced by the Republic of Moldova, volunteer work is welcome.
CEC president Dorin Cimil in the same news conference said there was constituted electoral district No.38 for the polling stations abroad. There was set up a distinct electoral council in Chisinau to coordinate the electoral processes for polling stations established abroad. Until 2019, this was the duty of Chisinau District Electoral Council No. 1. Until June 5, the CEC will decide the organization of polling stations abroad in accordance with the criteria stipulated by the Electoral Code.
The deadline for pre-registration is May 26. Pre-registration online is possible through alegator.md or by submitting an application signed individually or collectively to the CEC or to Moldova’s embassies and consular offices. The pre-registration for the previous elections remains valid. If the citizens intend to vote in another settlement outside the country, they can make changes to the previous data. About 93,000 persons pre-registered so far. Immediately after pre-registration is over, the CEC will draft the decision concerning the organization of polling stations abroad.
In the presidential runoff of November 2020, the voter turnout at the polling stations abroad was of over 263,000 Moldovans.
The snap parliamentary elections were set for July 11.
