CEC outlines signature collection requirements for upcoming elections
For the upcoming presidential elections, only members of the initiative group who possess an ID card and a subscription list issued by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) are authorised to collect signatures in support of candidates.
This clarification was provided by Dana Munteanu, the CEC secretary, during the "Public Space" program on Radio Moldova. According to Munteanu, to better understand their obligations and legal responsibilities, individuals involved in the signature collection process are currently undergoing training sessions.
Signatures may only be collected by authorised collectors who hold an ID card issued by the CEC, which includes an order number and is signed by the Chairwoman of the Commission. Voters must personally complete all fields on the subscription list. If, due to objective reasons, they are unable to write or do not know how, the collector is permitted to complete the entry on their behalf.
Munteanu also stated that citizens may sign subscription lists for multiple candidates but will vote for only one candidate in the election. She dismissed the possibility of individuals being forced to sign a candidate’s list and reminded that accepting remuneration for signatures is punishable by law.
Each supporter must be an eligible voter, meaning they must be at least 18 years old and not subject to any voting restrictions. Although we have a small list, some individuals are still under voting restrictions. Each list must include supporters from the same district or second-level administrative territorial unit. For instance, if a person resides in Drochia District, they must sign the list for Drochia District.
According to the Electoral Code, initiative groups supporting a presidential candidate must collect between 15,000 and 25,000 signatures from eligible voters.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
