Armenian NGOs demand changes in RA Electoral Code

PanARMENIAN.Net - A number of Armenian non-governmental organizations issued a statement demanding introduction of amendments to the RA Electoral Code.

The statement says:

“In order to rule out election fraud, ballot stuffing and other election violations, to make the election process become more transparent, and to truly establish the Republic of Armenia’s (RA) political system, the representatives of the civil society organizations and civic movements, and the individual citizens of Armenia hereby demand that, when making changes in the RA Electoral Code, the Armenian National Assembly assure the inclusion of these five provisions:

1) Holding RA National Assembly elections solely on proportional basis.

2) Securing the transparency and publicity (the lists of the voters who have cast their ballots at the polling stations are photocopied and fastened at the station) of the electoral rolls (with the signatures of the voters who have cast their votes).

3) Mandatory video recording of the preparation for the voting and the counting of the votes. In addition, the proxy, the observer, and the mass media, too, can carry out recordings on the basis of the same principle.

4) Forming the RA Central Election Commission members solely by the factions of the RA National Assembly, with the designation of two representatives from each faction. The regional and district election commission members likewise must be formed on the basis of this principle, that is, they must be designated by the Central Election Commission members. In addition, the political forces that have designated the members of all level - i.e., the central, regional and district - election commissions must have the right to replace the person they have designated.

5) Increasing the women’s involvement in the political process. To that end, the number of women in the electoral rolls must be proportionately increased by up to thirty percent. In addition, the Electoral Code must stipulate that in the case when a female MP resigns, her mandate is given to the next female candidate who is on the electoral roll.”

The statement was signed by “Azat Hayk” NGO, Club “National Value” (Gyumri), National Students Council “Biosophia” (Gyumri), “Dilnet Service” Educational NGO, “Zartonk 89” NGO, “Against Legal Arbitrariness” NGO, “Transparency International” Anti-Corruption Center, “Intellectual Center Khoranard” NGO (Gyumri), “Tsiranavor” Benevolent Human Rights NGO, “Consumers’ Association of Armenia” NGO, “Huys” NGO, “Shirak” Center NGO (Gyumri) “Victims of State Needs” NGO, “Semant” Educational NGO (Talin), “Defense of Property Rights” NGO, “Sos Argichi” Civic Initiative (Martuni), “Holy Virgin Sandukht Women’s Union” NGO, “Right for Education” Initiative Group, “Lawyers for Human Rights” NGO and “National Citizens’ Initiative” NGO.