Home > 2.1.1 Electoral commissions > MOLDOVA - Electoral Code 2016 and 2017 Law for Amending and Completing Certain Legislative Acts (Electoral System for the Election of Parliament)
 
 
 
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Article 56
 

Votes Counting by Precinct Electoral Bureau


(1) Upon expiration of time provided for voting, the chairperson of the precinct electoral bureau shall announce the closing of voting and give instructions on closing the premises of the polling station. Precinct electoral bureau will then begin the counting procedure.


(2) Before opening the ballot box, all unused ballots shall be counted, and cancelled by the precinct electoral bureau by applying the stamp “cancelled” thereupon (“Anulat” in the original), after that, bundled and sealed.


(3) Before counting the votes, the precinct electoral bureau shall establish the number of voters who were issued ballots by counting the number of voters’ signatures included in the voter lists and supplementary voter lists.


(4) After checking the seals on the ballot boxes, the chairperson of the precinct electoral bureau, in the presence of the members of bureau and persons authorised to observe electoral procedures, shall open the ballot boxes. Mobile ballot boxes shall be opened first, the ballots from mobile ballot box are counted, and then the stationary (fixed) ballot boxes shall be opened.


(5) The precinct must be provided with a su‚cient number of tables so that all ballots taken from the ballot boxes may be counted in one place visible to all members of the precinct bureau and others in attendance. Badges with the names of the candidates shall be placed on the tables for vote counting.


(6) The number of ballots taken out of mobile ballot boxes shall first be counted separately, then reconciled with the number of ballots issued for mobile voting, and only aer that the obtained number shall be added to other ballots in order to count votes.


(7) According to a procedure determined by the precinct electoral bureau, or upon instructions provided by the Central Electoral Commission or competent district electoral council, members of the precinct electoral bureau shall unfold the ballots and determine for which candidate the ballot was cast. The ballots for each candidate shall be counted and packed separately, and the results of the counting shall be entered on a special counting sheet as they are determined and will be communicated to superior election administration body.


(8) Before the number of votes obtained by each candidate is entered on the results minutes, representatives of candidates and other persons authorised to observe the electoral procedures shall be provided an opportunity to recheck the figures entered on a special counting sheet.


(9) The precinct electoral bureau shall not include invalid ballots in total number of counted valid votes.


(10) After closing the polling station, the precinct electoral bureau is considered to be in a meeting to count the votes and to file the bureau’s minutes and reports. All members of the precinct electoral bureau shall remain at the polling station and participate in the operations of the bureau during this entire period, unless prevented from doing so by a physical disability or other extraordinary circumstances.