The Moldovan authorities haven’t yet agreed all the addresses where polling stations will be established abroad for the November 1 presidential elections. There are risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic that can lead to the change of the place of particular polling stations right before the elections. Closer to the elections, the authorities will apply an early warning instrument by which the voters from abroad will receive updated information about the voting place, IPN reports.

In a news conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Oleg Țulea said that 139 polling stations will be established outside Moldova, in 36 countries. The Moldovan authorities ask for the states’ permission to establish polling places on their territory, but the decision belongs to these countries. If particular restrictions are imposed in connection with the pandemic, these will become mandatory.

“There are particular situations we anticipate. That’s why the first solution we proposed as an alternative, when a polling station cannot be opened, is to vote at the closest polling place that was opened. We have several elements that we are yet to agree with a number of states,” noted the minister.

The president of the Central Election Commission Dorin Cimil said that under the law, up to 5,000 ballots can be transmitted to a polling station. Voting is permitted with the identity card, the sailor’s permit and the passport with the period of validity expired.

The official noted the CEC suggests complementing the instructions approved by the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission so as to allow setting up a special place in polling stations where persons with fever could vote. These voters should have access to a table and a ballot box and the place should be later sanitized.