‘’ELECTORAL SYSTEMS CENTER’’ NGO ABOUT THE OBSERVATION MISSION OF THE LOCAL REFERENDUM HELD ON MAY 17, 2015.
18th May, 2015
PRELIMINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
The local referendum initiated by RA Government was held in Tumanyan, Marts, Qarinj, Lorut, Shamut, Atan, Ahnidzor, Shinuhayr, Tatev, Halidzor, Harzhis, Svarants, Khot, Tandzatap, Qashuni, Dilijan, Haghartsin, Teghut, Gosh, Aghavnavanq, Khachardzan and Hovq communities of Lori, Tavush and Syuniq marzes (regions).
The organization on the Referenda day conducted observation mission in 3 precincts instead of 11 due to the lack of financial resources (The observation mission was carried out by the volunteers’ resources). The observed polling stations were the Cultural Palace of Dilijan city (41/7), Teghut community (41/01) and Haghartsin Community Center (41/1).
Before that the organization conducted observation over the preparation and campaign of Referendum.
As a result of the observation it was revealed that there are essential legislative gaps in the RA Local Referendum Law as well as in RA Electoral Code. One of the gaps of Electoral Code regards to the absence of the regulations of the usage of Identification cards which causes double-voting risks.
There were recorded the losses of ballots (risk of carousel), gatherings of people near the precincts (which is the result that people was brought in groups), the presence of the representatives of local and state authorities as well as the policemen in the polling stations, attempts of multiply voting, attitude to do ballot stuffing which was not carried out just due to the presence of our observer in the precinct.
There were recorded the essential usage of administrative resources during the period of preparation and campaign of Referendum as well as on the Referendum day. The representatives of marzpetarans (regional offices) as well as State Authorities took active participation in the organizational processes in the Referendum day.
During the campaign many times there were announced by state officials about the multimillion investments of the World Bank, European Union and other international institutions in the communities if the residents will vote for the consolidation.
Due to the absence of legal regulations, the lack of active engagement of political forces and Mass media as well as the absence of competitive conditions the voting process and referendum campaign were passed without the oversight and checks and balances mechanisms which caused the great risks of being not transparent and unreliable.
Electoral Systems Center NGO is not responsible for any mistakes in the English translation. The official document is in Armenian.
Ընտրական Համակարգեր Կենտրոն 