CEC: 1,151,000 votes cast by 4 p.m.; 141 violations reported
The General Inspectorate of Police reported that by 4:00 p.m., there were 141 instances of electoral legislation violations in the country. Additionally, several polling stations abroad experienced disruptions due to bomb threats. However, Angelica Caraman, the president of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), stated that the electoral process is continuing safely.
By 4:00 p.m., over 1.51 million voters had cast their ballots.
“Based on the legal provisions, once the turnout exceeded one third of the number of voters registered on the electoral lists, we can say that today's election can be considered valid,” Angelica Caraman declared at the 4:00 p.m. briefing.
The highest turnout was recorded in the Dondușeni and Soroca districts, where about 38% and over 34% of voters voted, respectively.
In Chișinău, approximately 40% of voters, or around 280,000, have already cast their votes.
In the polling stations established for citizens with the right to vote in the localities on the left bank of the Nistru, 9,300 voters showed up at the ballot boxes, and in the diaspora - about 170 thousand voters, reported Angelica Caraman.
Among the cases documented by the General Inspectorate of Police, there are the photographing of the ballot paper - 58, the absence of voters in the electoral list - 35, electoral campaigning and cases of reasonable suspicion of voter corruption - eight cases each, unauthorized display, transportation of voters, damage to electoral materials, etc.
"We repeatedly draw attention to the need to comply with legal norms in the part related to electoral campaigning, which is strictly prohibited on election day", Caraman noted.
Abroad, bomb threats were reported at polling stations in Brussels (Belgium), Rome and Genoa (Italy), Bucharest (Romania), Ashville (USA) and Alicante (Spain).
“The responsible institutions intervened promptly, and voters and members of the electoral bodies were evacuated according to established protocols. The voting process was suspended for brief periods to conduct necessary checks and ensure the full security of citizens and the smooth conduct of the electoral process. At this stage, voting continues in these polling stations in safe conditions, except the two polling stations in Brussels, where the process remains suspended,” the CEC head said.
