Political parties, movements and citizens’ organizations may get registered for taking part in a campaign in support of or against the referendum by August 4 at the latest, the Central Election Commission has decided.
CEC Secretary Iurie Ciocan said that from the registration moment, such parties will have the possibility to take part in debates, and they will receive free airtime on the public television and radio. They will be eligible to spend maximum 7.5 million lei for the campaign.
The CEC also ruled that voter registers shall be prepared by local governance organs and submitted to the Central Election Commission by no later August 5. After this date, Moldova will come to know the number of voters necessary for recognizing the referendum as valid, i.e. how many voters will form the required voter turnout minimum of one-third of the registered electorate.
On the upcoming September 5, citizens are invited to come to the polls to vote for or against a direct election of the head of state. According to the latest changes, introduced by the ruling coalition into the Electoral Code only 2 weeks ago, the voter turnout minimum shall now be 33% electorate, not 60% as before, and the referendum shall be recognized as valid if 50% plus 1 citizen, who have come to the polls, cast their ballots for this or that decision.