Moldova Parliament amends Electoral Code for Gagauzia and diaspora

Electoral Code amendments Gagauzia elections mail-in voting proportional representation Moldovan Parliament

The Parliament of Moldova has passed significant amendments to the Electoral Code, introducing major changes to voting procedures and regional administration. A key update concerns the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, where elections for the People's Assembly will transition from a majoritarian to a proportional system. While the upcoming elections on November 15, 2026, will be the last held under the majoritarian model, future cycles will follow the proportional system used for local councils. To support this transition, the Gagauzia Central Electoral Council will be integrated into the unified national electoral administration system.

The amendments also establish new regulations for mail-in voting, including provisions for digital remote voter identification and the creation of a dedicated electoral council to manage this process. For voters changing their residence, registration must now be completed at least three months prior to an election to ensure eligibility at a new address. Additionally, the law introduces stricter measures to prevent the misuse of administrative resources during campaigns, requiring that political meetings in public spaces occur outside of official institutional working hours to ensure equal access for all candidates.

Entities

Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia · Council of Europe · European Commission · Gagauzia · Gagauzia Central Electoral Council · Ministry of Culture · Moldova · National Bank of Moldova · Parliament of Moldova · Parliament of the Republic of Moldova · People's Assembly of Gagauzia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The November 15, 2026, elections in Gagauzia will be the last held under the majoritarian system. safenews.md · democracy.md
[● 3 SOURCES] Voters changing their residence must register at least three months before an election to vote at their new address. safenews.md · democracy.md
[● 3 SOURCES] New rules aim to prevent the use of administrative resources for electoral purposes and ensure equal access to public spaces for candidates. safenews.md · democracy.md
[DISPUTED] The Parliament of Moldova approved the second reading of amendments to the Electoral Code. safenews.md · democracy.md
[● 3 SOURCES] A separate electoral council will be established to organize mail-in voting. safenews.md · democracy.md
[● 4 SOURCES] The amendments introduce rules for mail-in voting, including digital remote voter identification. safenews.md · democracy.md
[● 3 SOURCES] The Gagauzia Central Electoral Council will be integrated into the unified electoral administration system. safenews.md · democracy.md
[● 3 SOURCES] Elections for the People's Assembly of Gagauzia will transition from a majoritarian to a proportional system. safenews.md · democracy.md