Voter turnout stays at about 40 per cent in Moldova by 16:00

Chisinau, 30 October /MOLDPRES/ – Over 1,140 million voters (39 per cent) were present at the ballot box until 16.00. Consequently, the presidential elections of 30 October 2016 can be considered valid.

The chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Alina Russu said that currently all polling stations opened both at home and abroad work in a normal mode. "About 9 per cent of voters between 18 – 25 years old, over 24 per cent between 26 – 40 years old, around 26 per cent – 41 – 55 years old, over 32 per cent between 56 – 70 years old and more than 8 per cent of the electorate is aged over 71 years old. The district attesting the highest voting turnout representative is Ocnita (41,85 per cent), the lowest being Gagauzia (30,26 per cent)," said Russu.

The locality where most voters voted in the district is Pocrovca , Donduseni district (71,46 per cent), the least being registered to vote in the locality Caracusenii Vechi, Briceni district, where until this time citizens have registered only 12,46 per cent of their voting.  

The CEC chairman said that in Chisinau municipality: in Riscani sector 42,22 per cent of voters voted, in Botanica sector – 41,62 per cent, in Centru sector – 41,56 per cent, in Buiucani sector – 41,08 per cent and Ciocana sector – 40,14 per cent. "With reference to voting in the polling stations opened abroad, following the information provided by our colleagues, the process proceeds in a normal way. Till 15.30 at polling stations opened abroad voted 35,879 citizens. Currently, there open polling stations in the USA cities of Seattle and Sacramento," said Alina Russu.

In the same context, CEC informed that the most active Moldovan citizens who exercise their right to vote today in the polling stations opened abroad were registered in a polling stations in Moscow, Russia (1,438 voters), Bucharest, Romania (1,389 voters) and Padua, Italy (1,109 voters).

The CEC chairman noted active participation in elections of Diaspora in Italy – 12,388 people (for whom were opened 25 polling stations) Romania 5,720 (for whom were opened 11 polling stations) and the Russian Federation 3,429 people (for whom opened eight polling stations). At the same time, it found a low presence of Moldovan voters in polling stations opened in China – 19 people, Lithuania – 20 people and Japan – 25 people.

"Given the difference in time zones between Moldova and the countries where polling stations were open, we expect to have a more active participation of the Diaspora in the presidential election in the coming hours," said Russu.

At the direct presidential elections, there are expected 2,8 million citizens. The first preliminary data on the election results will be presented at around 22.00.