Promo-LEX: Violations of ballot secrecy, voting on behalf of other voters and suspicions of voter bribery during elections in Gagauzia

The Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission monitoring the regional elections in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia recorded 41 confirmed incidents by 10:00 p.m., out of a total of 124 reported cases that were processed and classified as incidents. Among the most serious irregularities were violations of ballot secrecy, voting on behalf of other voters and suspicions of money being offered to influence voters’ choices, MOLDPRES reports.

According to Promo-LEX, 14 cases of violations of ballot secrecy were documented. Most were identified during mobile ballot box voting, particularly at polling station No. 42 in Chiriet-Lunga, where, in several instances, the mobile voting booth was not set up, making voters’ choices visible to those present. In one case, two other people held the ballot paper while the voter was marking it.

Observers also reported six cases of voting on behalf of another voter. At polling station No. 42 in Chiriet-Lunga, members of the electoral bureau handed the ballot papers of a bedridden person to their grandson, who voted on their behalf. At polling station No. 5 in Comrat, a woman voted on behalf of her husband, although he reportedly wished to exercise his right to vote himself. Other similar cases were reported in Comrat, Bugeac and Vulcănești.

Another serious case involved suspicions of voter bribery near polling station No. 61 in Ferapontievca. According to Promo-LEX observers, a female voter told them that “money was being distributed to voters in the house next to which the aforementioned car was parked, in exchange for voting for candidate Vitali Cebanu”. Observers also reported seeing people leaving that house and heading towards the polling station. The case was reported as a suspicion and was not presented as an established fact.

In addition, Promo-LEX documented eight cases of unjustified group voting. At a polling station in Comrat, observers found that “one voter was showing another voter whom to vote for”, while in other instances two people entered the same voting booth simultaneously and discussed their choices while casting their ballots.

Regarding order at polling stations and within a 100-metre radius of them, three cases of the unjustified presence of unauthorised persons were reported. These included the presence of Ivan Cîlcic, a candidate for the position of Bashkan, at polling station No. 1 in Comrat, where, according to observers, he behaved aggressively towards the chairperson of the electoral bureau.

Promo-LEX also reported that all 67 monitored polling stations closed in accordance with the regulations at 9:00 p.m. Most observers assessed the overall atmosphere at polling stations throughout the day as good or very good.

On Sunday, 15 November, elections were held in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia for the position of Bashkan and for the People's Assembly.