Voted in final reading: Moldova's Electoral Code supplemented with provisions on postal voting, organization of elections in Gagauz autonomy

The Electoral Code has been supplemented with new regulations on postal voting and the organization of elections in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (UTA Gagauzia), aimed at strengthening the transparency, fairness and efficiency of the electoral process. The provisions are included in the draft law amending the Electoral Code, approved by the parliament in the third reading today, with the votes of 53 MPs.

A new chapter is dedicated to alternative voting ways, in particular postal voting. The draft introduces definitions for postal voting, remote identification of voters through digital means and the electoral roll for postal voting. At the same time, a separate electoral council is established for the organization of postal voting. In addition, voters residing abroad will be able to opt for postal voting based on a preliminary registration and eligibility verification procedure.

Another amendment concerns the way of electing deputies to the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. The draft provides for a switch from the single-member system to a proportional system, similar to the one used for electing local councils. In order to ensure the stability of the electoral framework and a gradual transition, the elections of deputies to the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, scheduled for 15 November 2026, will be held, for the last time, under the majority system.

The report on the draft law was presented by the deputy head of the legal commission for appointments and immunities, Vasile Gradinaru. He emphasized that the document aims to improve the legal framework.

“The initiative provides for the modernization of voting mechanisms and the strengthening of electoral administration, as well as the implementation of Constitutional Court Decision No. 8 from July 9, 2026. I note that, in the third reading, no substantive changes were made, only wording adjustments,” said Vasile Gradinaru.

The draft strengthens the status of the Central Electoral Council of the UTA Gagauzia, by clarifying its responsibilities and integrating it into the unified system of electoral administration. The institution will consist of at least seven and at most eleven members. The nominated people will have to meet the same eligibility requirements and undergo the same verification procedures provided by law for holders of and candidates for public offices.

The document also contains measures to prevent the use of administrative resources on electoral purposes. Central and local public authorities will be required to adopt administrative acts that transparently establish the conditions for making available premises meant for meetings with voters. They will have to ensure a minimum number of rooms that can be used by electoral contenders on equal terms. At the same time, meetings with voters will have to be organized outside the working hours of public institutions, in order to prevent the abusive use of administrative resources in electoral campaigns.

Adjustments are also provided regarding the exercise of the right to vote. Registration at domicile or at a temporary residence will have to be carried out at least three months before election day for the voter to be able to vote on the basis of this data.

The draft also amends the rules on managing accounts used in electoral campaigns and by initiative groups. The deadlines and procedures for opening, operating, suspending and closing the accounts marked “Electoral fund” and “Meant for the initiative group” are adjusted, taking into account the working hours of banking institutions and the experience gained at recent elections. At the same time, electoral contenders will be able to use, in addition to bank accounts, payment accounts provided by service providers authorized by the National Bank of Moldova.

The document also includes amendments regarding the registration of candidates, drafted following the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, as set out in the Final Report on the parliamentary elections of September 28, 2025. Thus, if the exclusion of candidates declared ineligible affects compliance with the minimum quota of representation for both sexes, electoral contenders will be granted a deadline to adjust their lists and bring them in line with legal requirements.

When drafting the legislative initiative, the authors – a group of Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) MPs – took into account the proposals formulated by the Central Electoral Commission following the post-electoral assessments of the 2024 elections and the 2025 parliamentary elections. The initiative also transposes the normative solutions necessary for the implementation of Constitutional Court Decision No. 8 of July 9, 2026.