A draft law amending Moldova’s Electoral Code, prepared by a group of Members of Parliament, has been discussed with representatives of the People’s Assembly of the Autonomous Territorial Unit (ATU) of Gagauzia. The consultations aimed to ensure institutional dialogue on the proposed legislative changes, with particular attention to the provisions governing the organization and conduct of elections to the Gagauzia People’s Assembly, scheduled for November 15, 2026, TRIBUNA reports.

The bill was drafted to strengthen the country’s electoral legal framework and improve the mechanisms for organizing and conducting free, fair, and transparent elections. It seeks to clarify existing procedures, address gaps identified in electoral practice, and introduce measures that enhance transparency, fairness, integrity, and efficiency throughout the electoral process.

The draft incorporates proposals submitted by the Central Electoral Commission following its post-election assessments of the 2024 presidential election and constitutional referendum, as well as the 2025 parliamentary elections. It also includes the legislative changes required to implement Constitutional Court Decision No. 8 of July 9, 2026.

Under the proposal, the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia would be established according to the same rules that apply to all electoral bodies in the Republic of Moldova. In addition, elections in Gagauzia would be conducted under Moldova’s Electoral Code, the national law governing the organization and administration of elections.

The legislative initiative also implements the Constitutional Court’s ruling introducing a proportional electoral system for electing members of the Gagauzia People’s Assembly. To uphold the principle of electoral law stability, the new rules will not apply to the election already scheduled for November 15, 2026. According to the draft, this autumn’s vote will be the last to use the majoritarian single-member constituency system, while the proportional system will take effect for subsequent elections.

The bill also proposes making postal voting a permanent voting option and introduces measures to modernize election administration. These include facilitating electoral contestants’ access to payment services by allowing them to use not only traditional bank accounts but also payment accounts opened with payment service providers authorized by the National Bank of Moldova.

The draft law has been formally registered in Parliament and is expected to be considered in its first reading later this week.