Moldova confirms mail-in voting for diaspora in 2025
Moldovan citizens living abroad will further be able to vote by mail in the parliamentary elections on September 28, 2025.
The system, first introduced in the 2024 presidential elections and constitutional referendum, will be maintained and adapted for the new election, announced the Speaker of Parliament, Igor Grosu.
"Mail-in voting will be maintained; it is a firm decision," stated Igor Grosu. He mentioned that the authorities will "proceed under the law from the previous election," and details will be adjusted based on the geography and functioning of postal systems in each country.
According to the Vice-President of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Pavel Postica, the institution recommended "continuing the limited implementation of mail-in voting in the same countries, with the possibility of slight expansion." The decision regarding potential expansions rests with Parliament, which will determine in which countries the system could be applied beyond those used previously.
How mail-in voting was conducted in 2024
Mail-in voting was piloted for the first time in the presidential elections and constitutional referendum on October 20, 2024. The law was adopted on April 26, 2024, despite opposition, which challenged it before the Constitutional Court, accusing discrimination by limiting its application only to certain countries.
The countries selected for the pilot were the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland – chosen based on criteria such as lack of nearby polling stations, long distances, reliable postal services, and previous experience with this type of voting.
By the deadline of September 6, 2024, 1,986 voters registered for mail-in voting. In the first round of the presidential elections, 1,344 citizens voted: 705 in the USA, 438 in Canada, and 201 in Sweden.
The ballots were sent via diplomatic pouch or regular postal services and were counted only after the polls closed, to avoid double voting. The entire process was managed through the CEC's IT system.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
