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The Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe debated on October 20, 2016 an Information Report on the assessment of local by-elections held on 18 September 2016 in Armenia. As the press release of the Congress reports, despite the adoption of a new Electoral Code in 2016 further to the 2015 Constitutional reform in Armenia, the local by-elections were held on 18 September 2016 were governed by the 2011 Electoral Code.

This has led to some uncertainties with regard to the legal framework and “had inevitable repercussions related to the general atmosphere in which these elections took place”, stated the Congress’ Rapporteur Liisa Ansala (Finland, ILDG).

In general, the teams deployed on Election Day found that the elections were technically well-prepared and overall in line with international standards. At the same time, Mrs Ansala underlined a very low level of political competition for these elections with many candidates withdrawing in the course of the campaign. “As a consequence, there was low public interest”, the Rapporteur regretted.

Some key recommendations by the Congress relate to the recurring issue of citizens residing de facto abroad but remaining on the voters’ lists and to the question of access to polling stations for elderly people and persons with disabilities. Concern was voiced regarding the grey zone of so-called “assisted voting” involving a disproportionate high number of cases of such voting in some polling stations.

Another recommendation made by the Congress to Armenia’s authorities was to revise the electoral calendar and hold local elections only on one day instead of on several days during the year. “We think that this could improve transparency and increase the public awareness for elections at the grassroots’ level,” Lisa Ansala suggested.