In Moldova, citizens headed to the polls to elect a new president following the end of the term of the current President Maya Sandu. Alongside the election, a referendum on the country’s accession to the European Union (EU) is also being held. Voting has commenced in the presidential elections in Moldova. According to data from the Central Election Commission in Moldova, over 3 million voters, including those residing abroad, are casting their votes in 36 regions within the country and at embassies abroad starting at 07:00 local time. The voting process is taking place in a total of 2,221 polling stations, including 234 abroad, 30 within Moldova’s borders, and in the self-declared “Transdniestria” region, as well as 68 in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. For the first time in the election, voting is also being conducted via mail in the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland. The election is being observed by over 1100 local and approximately 280 international observers. Voting will close at 21:00 local time, after which the counting of votes will begin. As per Moldova’s election law, the presidential election will be considered valid if at least one-third of eligible voters participate, and the presidential candidate must receive more than half of the votes of participating voters to be elected. If no candidate garners over 50% of the votes, a second round will take place. With 11 Candidates Including 2 Gagauz Turks The presidential seat in Moldova is being contested by 11 candidates, with 6 affiliated with political parties and 5 running as independents. Among them are the incumbent President Maya Sandu from the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), as well as former Mayor of Bălți from the “Our Party” Renato Usatîi, former Prime Minister of Moldova nominated by the “For Moldova’s Future” Party Vasile Tarlev, and former Moldovan Prime Minister Ion Chicu from the Development and Unity Party. Independently running candidates include former Minister of Internal Affairs of Moldova Andrei Năstase, former Minister of Youth and Sports Octavian Țîcu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Tudor Ulianovschi, journalist Natalia Morari, and Viktorya Furtuna. Gagauz Turks are represented by Irina Vlah, former Governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, and former Moldovan Prosecutor General Aleksandr Stoianoglo, nominated by the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), in the presidential race. EU Accession Referendum Alongside the presidential election, a referendum on Moldova’s accession to the European Union (EU) is also taking place on the same day. The referendum, which envisions including certain amendments to the country’s constitution, aims to determine whether “EU membership is Moldova’s strategic objective” or not.