Transparency International Anticorruption Center has launched a campaign called "I am checking the voting of absentees." It is urging the National Assembly of Armenia to make amendments to the Electoral Code to ensure publicizing voter lists with signatures of those who participated in the elections. It will enable the Armenian citizens to assure that absentees votes are not used in the electoral processes and will enhance peoples trust in the electoral institute.

Justification of the demand

Many people in Armenia feel certain doubt about the integrity and legitimacy of elections, since they distrust the accuracy of voter lists regarding them as the key instrument for falsifying the results of voting.

It is stipulated in RA Electoral Code that the voter lists comprise the citizens of Armenia who are registered in a community of the Republic of Armenia, and have the right to vote. They also contain the people who have left Armenia years ago, however are still included in the State Population Register.

Numerous factors serve as basis for distrust in voter lists, including:

-Though the factual population in Armenia is declining, the number of voters is increasing in parallel. Thus, according to the 2011 census data, the factual population of Armenia was 2,871,771, showing drop by 194,157 since the previous census in 2001. According to 2013 data provided by the Armenian police the number of voters was 2,528,773, that is it has increased by 202,346 compared to 2003 data.

-Released in 2013 by the Armenian police the voter lists have 10,773 addresses with 10 and more voters. More than 50 voters are registered in 52 of the mentioned addresses, and more than 100 voters in 17. There are numerous voters who are registered in odd addresses (churchyard, gas station, tunnel, etc.). For instance, 289 voters are registered in Kanaker District Tunnel.

-The number of voters, compared to the factual population is suspiciously large in some marzes (provinces). The number of voters in Syunik and Gegharkunik marzes and in Yerevan makes 74-78 per cent of the factual population. The number of voters in Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Vayots Dzor and Tavush marzes exceeds 80 per cent, in Kotayk and Shirak marzes 90 per cent. In Lori marz voters number exceeds the number of factual population, making 100.99 per cent.

-In some precincts voters participation in 2013 presidential elections considerably differed from the average country-wide data. Thus voter turnout was higher than 70 per cent in 597 precincts. Voter turnout exceeded 80 per cent in 222 precincts, 90 per cent in 49 precincts, and 100 per cent in 6 precincts. The higher the turnout was the more votes were cast for S. Sargsyan.

-According to official data reported in every 3 hours on voter turnout during election in some precincts the turnout was so high that it was practically impossible to provide reasonable time to carry out the whole cycle of election. Thus, in 886 precincts (nearly 45 per cent of the precincts) the voter turnout was incredibly high at least for 3 hours by providing each voter less than 60 seconds to accomplish the whole process of voting. In parallel, in 309 of the precincts voter turnout was higher than 70 per cent, including higher than 80 per cent in 98 precincts and higher than 90 per cent in 19 precincts.

-Independent observers and reporters observed numerous instances when unauthorized people entered the polling station, signed and voted instead of others. These violations occurred by direct support of the members of precinct electoral commissions, who at the same time banned checking and comparing the data in voter lists with those in citizens passports.

- The voter lists with voter signatures are confidential under the Electoral Code of Armenia. The Armenian citizens are denied the opportunity to make sure that their acquaintances and relatives who are out of country for years have not "appeared and voted" on the election day. The limited opportunities given to the proxies, observers and mass media to get acquainted with the signed lists (only in case of voting recount) do not provide effective oversight and assurance of exclusion of abuses.

Publicizing voter lists with voter signatures is the first and most significant step that the Armenian authorities should take to prove their legitimacy and to restore the Armenian citizens trust in electoral processes. Publicizing the voter lists is possible by making amendments to the Electoral Code of Armenia. The signed voter lists and additional lists should be posted in the polling stations and publicized by internet with the opportunity of search and download, giving the citizens an opportunity to verify the names of the factual voters and oversight the legality of the process, thus excluding the instances of multiple voting and voting instead of absentees.

For more information please contact Transparency International Anticorruption Center by email at [email protected] or call (37410) 569910.

See the Campaign Petition form.