Promo-LEX urges electoral law amendments for Gagauzia elections

The non-governmental organization Promo-LEX has called for the rapid adoption of legislative amendments required to hold elections in the Gagauzia autonomy on November 15. The association submitted several recommendations to the Moldovan Parliament to improve electoral legislation, emphasizing the need to implement findings from national and international observation missions and the Venice Commission.

Regarding regional elections in Gagauzia, Promo-LEX recommends that voters must have a registered domicile or temporary residence in the autonomy for at least 12 months prior to the first round of elections. For candidates seeking seats in the People’s Assembly, the organization suggests reducing the required residency period from five to three years. For gubernatorial candidates, they recommend an explicit requirement to reside in Gagauzia at the time of the election and the removal of the 1,500-signature minimum threshold for registration, noting that the current requirement exceeds 1% of eligible voters.

At the national level, Promo-LEX proposes that rules for resolving electoral disputes should not be changed less than one year before a national election. The organization also advocates for a legal framework for third-party participation and enhanced provisions to ensure full accessibility and participation for people with disabilities, including stricter criminal penalties for falsifying results involving vulnerable voters.