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The Central Election Commission (CEC) has rejected the protest of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) which demanded to cancel the CEC’s decision to open additional polling stations abroad (it’s about polling stations outside diplomatic missions, per total about 40 polling stations more than in 2009). CEC decided that PCRM’s protest was “groundless”. PCRM representative pointed out to the fact that polling stations were created abroad after the expiration of provided by the Election Code legal period. Besides, stations were created without a preliminary elector registration, and the authorities had no agreements with host countries, according to them the states are obliged to ensure station security. In reply, CEC said it was late for creating 20 polling stations, but it did not break the legislation, because it “did not prejudice the rights of Moldovan citizens abroad or protest applicant, and on the contrary, guaranteed their right to vote inside and out of the country”. CEC considers that the preliminary electoral registration abroad, which permits to estimate the total number of electors and of ballots respectively, provided for a station, is not necessary. In its turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) announced that according to the international principles, it informed the host states about the creation of new stations for referendum, as their main duty is to ensure security at the polling stations. The same day, the Appeal Court also rejected PCRM protest. PCRM representative said he will appeal against the decision in the Court Supreme of Justice.

The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections launched an appeal addressed to Moldovan citizens to participate in the constitutional referendum of September 5. The Coalitions representatives declared that they will develop public actions in order to convince citizens to participate and to vote “in favor” or “against” the modification aimed to introduce the direct election of the country’s president. The referendum is held in the legal framework and the right of citizens to participate cannot be limited in the interests of some political forces. During the campaign for referendum the Coalition intend to implement a series of civic education projects aimed at increasing the participation rate. At the same time, the Coalition urged the Moldovan authorities to undertake measures for electoral education of citizens, while the Ministry of Education to ensure that the students have residence permits in the dormitories in order to vote without impediments. (Infotag)

CEC issued a press-release mentioning that students will be able to vote at any polling station provided that they get certificate for the right to vote at the place of residence. The students can apply for the certificate till September 4th. According to CEC at the there are about 20 thousands students.

The secretary of the Chisinau Municipal Council, Valeriu Didencu, announced that for the upcoming referendum of September 5 there will be opened five more poling stations. That’s because the number of voters in Chisinau is increasing. Supplementary polling stations will be opened in the Botanica and Center sectors of the capital city. Per total in the municipality their will be opened 302 poling stations, including 55 in the Chisinau suburbs. In some polling stations will be installed special equipment for testing the Automatic State System “Alegeri” aimed to exclude the eventual multiple vote ant improve the quality of voters’ rolls. The voters’ identity will be verified with the help of ID just before the voting exercise.