Davit Harutyunyan on the amendments to the RA Draft Electoral Code
Chief of RA Government Staff Davit Harutyunyan informed that the group, which is working out the draft Electoral Code of Armenia, has the aim to ensure the transparency of the election process. Davit Harutyunyan made the statement at the discussion on the Electoral Code, organized by the National Platform for Democracy.
Harutyunyan informed that discussion on the draft document were held “ within broadened circles” and the draft Code is continuously updated.
According to the suggested amendments which will be included in the Draft version to be submitted to the National Assembly, the authorities propose to leave the practice of ballot papers and the envelops to consider as a document of special registration.
“Numerous opinions were circulating, speculations saying a large amount of fake ballot papers had been printed and we decided to streamline the provision. Decision was made to refuse from the color ballot papers and the corresponding provision was removed from the draft document at the first hearing,” Harutyunyan mentioned.
Chief of RA Government Staff next informed that the draft, which is to be submitted to the National Assembly, proposes new ballot envelops with a cut edge as well as self-adhesive stamps. Those shall be considered as documents of “special registration.” Each polling station should have its unique stamp, which will be protected as punched with special marking.
As Harutyunyan said, each ballot paper should have a stamp to be considered valid. Stamps are given to the polling station based on the number of the registered voters and are subject to be returned.