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Voter turnout in Romania's local elections since 1992 – lowest turnout in 2016
Voter turnout in Romania's local elections ranged from 65 per cent in 1992 to 49.38pct in 2008, with more voters in the first round as a general rule. The 2016 elections have only one round.
Voter turnout in the local elections of Sunday on polls closing at 21.00 stood at 48.27 per cent, according to data announced by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC). In urban areas, the turnout was 38.80pct, and in rural areas 59.71pct.
The figures were below the similar estimates in 2012, which were 56.39 per cent overall, 49.88pct in urban areas, and 65.30pct overall.
Voter turnout in Romania's local elections ranged from 65pct in 1992 (the first free local elections following the falling of the Communist regime in 1989) to 49.38pct in 2008. The 2012 and 2016 elections had only one round; in the two-round system used until 2008, attendance was higher in the first round as a general rule.
The first round turnout figures were as follows: 65pct of 16.65 million registered voters on 9 February 1992, the first local elections after the fall of the Communist regime in 1989; 56.47pct of 17.7 million on 2 June 1996; 50.85pct of 17.6 million on 4 June 2000; 54pct of 17.5 million on 6 June 2004 - the only time the turnout was higher than four years before; 49.38 pct of 18.5 million on 1 June 2008; and 56.39pct on 10 June 2012 - the first time the single-round system was used.
The second round turnout was slightly above 50pct in 1992; 54.74pct in 1996; 46.93pct in 2000; 50.17pct in 2004; and 47.42pct in 2008.
The turnout was always significantly higher in rural areas.
În 2016, more than 18,000,000 electors were expected to cast their ballots until 9 pm, to elect the authorities of the local administration.
A number of 267,242 were running for mayor, local or county councilor, or for the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest.
According to the statistics released by the Central Electoral Bureau, 12 candidates were competing for the Capital general mayor office, there are 14,039 candidates for mayor, 239,134 persons want a local councilor seat, and 14,057 are running for a county councilor seat or one in the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest.
In Bucharest, 1,780,307 citizens were expected to cast their ballots, to elect the general mayor, the sector mayors, general and local councilors, in 1,246 polling stations.
In Bucharest's sector 1 there were 207,584 electors registered in the electoral roll, in sector 2 - 317,581, in sector 3 - 402,970, ,in sector 4 - 272,842, in sector 5 - 248,438, and in sector 6 - 330,892.
As a first, the polling stations have a tablet application installed meant to prevent the illegal voting attempts. Thus, the elector hands a computer operator the ID, who will scan the Personal Identification Number, and the app will show whether the person has voted or not. Voting fraud is punished with 6 months to 3 years jail time, or fine, and the ban of exercising some rights.
Another novelty in the elections was that the presidents and vice presidents of county councils, as well as deputy mayors are elected by indirect voting, by the county councils and local councils, respectively.
Citizens who turned 18 years on election day included have the right to vote, and the elective franchise can be exercised based on the identity paper, identity card, provisional identity card, diplomatic or service passport and military licence.
Electors vote only at the polling station corresponding to the domicile or residence street or locality, where they are registered on the permanent roll (the Romanian citizen electors) or on the copy of the complementary electoral roll (the EU citizen electors).
At the same polling station, electors cast their vote for the local, county council and mayor, where they will receive three paper ballots. In the Capital, they will vote for the local council of the sector, sector mayor, the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest, as well as the general mayor and will receive four paper ballots.
The stamp with the "Voted" inscription is to be placed inside the square including the list of candidates or the name of the favourite candidate, or the paper ballot will be declared null. After they vote, citizens fold the paper ballot and introduce it in the ballot box.
After that, electors must hand over the stamp to the president of the polling station, who has the obligation to stamp the ID, with the poll data mentioned.
For the Sunday elections, a number of 18,616 polling stations were set up nationwide.