Armenia is electing its President today. These are the fifth presidential elections in the history of independent Armenia. Nine candidates are running for President.
All 1,923 precincts in Armenia were opened at 8 a.m. sharp. 2,328,320 citizens are enfranchised to vote in the elections. According to the data of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), 19 thousand people are included in additional lists.
In compliance with the Electoral Code of Armenia, the number of ballots printed is equal to the number of voters plus 3%, i.e. 2,390,000.
More than 600 international observers will follow the elections in Armenia. The Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) is comprised of 316 observers, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 53, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - 40, the European Parliament - 6.
166 observers represent the CIS, 39 are from the CIS Interparlaimentary Assembly.
The elections will be observed also by 39 local NGOs. The total number of local observers exceeds 14 thousand. The "Choice is yours" NGO has the largest mission, comprised of 4,010 observers.
For the first time in Armenia a seal will be put in passports to exclude double voting.
The Central Electoral Commisison of Armenia will provide information on voter turnout every three hours. The election will continue until 8 p.m. Within 24 hours following the election the CEC will issue the preliminary results. The final results will be publicized within seven days.
The candidate, who receives more than 50% of the votes, will be elected the President of the Republic of Armenia. If no one receives the necessary number of votes, the second round will be held in a fortnight. Two candidates having the greatest number of the ballots will participate in the run-off. The one who gets more votes will win in the second round.
Armenia's Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan stated today that "not a single violation of law on the day of elections will remain unpunished."
Aghvan Hovsepyan reminded that there is a working group set up within the department, which will be operatively reacting to and suppressing any violation of the electoral legislation.
Aghvan Hovsepyan stated that those who try to hinder the free will of the citizens and the work of the electoral commission, or falsify the results of the elections, as well as people, who enter the polling stations armed, will be called to criminal responsibility.
"Our legal system has the determination and the will to combat the possible violations of the electoral process, to protect the public order and the constitutional system. I assure that not a single violation of law will remain unpunished Armenian Prosecutor General stated."
Source: Public Radio of Armenia
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