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Implications of Electoral Code amendments ahead of vote
The idea of involving the Armenian Diaspora in elections is not new;
it was first voiced following the adoption of the Law on Dual
Citizenship.
Ahead of any elections, Armenia, as well as Israel, countries whose
Diaspora is far larger than the population living in the homeland,
face debate on the need to involve the Diaspora in the presidential or
parliamentary voting. Armenians and Jews living in other countries
amount to 2/3 of their total number, with approximately 3 millions of
Armenians living in Armenia and about 6 millions of Jews in Israel.
These figures make 7 and 14 millions worldwide, respectively. If all
of them have the right to vote, the outcome of elections in our
countries could be absolutely different and even unpredictable for
either the politicians or experts of Armenia and Israel.
December 8, 2012
PanARMENIAN.Net - According to Dr. Alexander Tsinker, chairman of the
Center for Electoral Systems (ICES), both Armenian and Jewish
Diasporas are quite heterogeneous, and often pursue goals different
from those of their mother country. `The Armenian Diaspora mostly
adheres to right-wing convictions; most of its representatives believe
that radical measures should be taken to settle Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and unite the lost historical lands, while the Jewish one
(with the exception of the Russian-speaking Jews of Diaspora)' rather
maintains left-winged principles, not quite popular in Israel
nowadays.
Another problem is related to citizens of Armenia and Israel who are
abroad for different reasons - students, lecturers, workers,
businessmen, tourists, etc. This issue needs a serious consideration.
Still, this should not be done hastily, just ahead of the elections;
this is not productive for the development of democracy,' Tsinker
noted.
He also mentioned that the voting day is often scheduled on workdays
and not a week-end, and people living in Russia or the U.S. will not
have the time to cast a ballot at a polling station situated far away,
even in a neighbouring town sometimes.
In fact, the polling stations for Armenian citizens in the U.S. are
located at embassies or consulates, and those living, say, in Iowa or
Massachusetts will not feel comfortable visiting Washington, New York
or Los Angeles to vote. The situation with the Israeli citizens is
apparently the same.
Armenian and Jewish lobbies promote relevant interests of their
countries in the U.S. Congress and elsewhere, organize annual
telethons raising millions of dollars to be targeted to the
development of Israel and Armenia; hence, the representatives of these
Diasporas are believed to be worth getting the right to vote. `I'm not
sure this is an unbiased approach, however, amendments to the
Electoral Code should be discussed and even passed not ahead of
elections, but in advance, perhaps even after another tenure,' Tsinker
underlined.
Basing on the above-said, it is worth mentioning that the idea of
participation of the Armenian Diaspora in elections is not new; it was
first voiced following the adoption of the Law on Dual Citizenship.
Yet the suffrage cannot be viewed apart from other rights and duties
of an Armenian citizen, namely the residence in the homeland during at
least six months, the duty of tax payment and military service.
Without all this, participation in the parliamentary and presidential
elections will not be understood by the Armenian citizens.
Karine Ter-Sahakian
The idea of involving the Armenian Diaspora in elections is not new;
it was first voiced following the adoption of the Law on Dual
Citizenship.
Ahead of any elections, Armenia, as well as Israel, countries whose
Diaspora is far larger than the population living in the homeland,
face debate on the need to involve the Diaspora in the presidential or
parliamentary voting. Armenians and Jews living in other countries
amount to 2/3 of their total number, with approximately 3 millions of
Armenians living in Armenia and about 6 millions of Jews in Israel.
These figures make 7 and 14 millions worldwide, respectively. If all
of them have the right to vote, the outcome of elections in our
countries could be absolutely different and even unpredictable for
either the politicians or experts of Armenia and Israel.
December 8, 2012
PanARMENIAN.Net - According to Dr. Alexander Tsinker, chairman of the
Center for Electoral Systems (ICES), both Armenian and Jewish
Diasporas are quite heterogeneous, and often pursue goals different
from those of their mother country. `The Armenian Diaspora mostly
adheres to right-wing convictions; most of its representatives believe
that radical measures should be taken to settle Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and unite the lost historical lands, while the Jewish one
(with the exception of the Russian-speaking Jews of Diaspora)' rather
maintains left-winged principles, not quite popular in Israel
nowadays.
Another problem is related to citizens of Armenia and Israel who are
abroad for different reasons - students, lecturers, workers,
businessmen, tourists, etc. This issue needs a serious consideration.
Still, this should not be done hastily, just ahead of the elections;
this is not productive for the development of democracy,' Tsinker
noted.
He also mentioned that the voting day is often scheduled on workdays
and not a week-end, and people living in Russia or the U.S. will not
have the time to cast a ballot at a polling station situated far away,
even in a neighbouring town sometimes.
In fact, the polling stations for Armenian citizens in the U.S. are
located at embassies or consulates, and those living, say, in Iowa or
Massachusetts will not feel comfortable visiting Washington, New York
or Los Angeles to vote. The situation with the Israeli citizens is
apparently the same.
Armenian and Jewish lobbies promote relevant interests of their
countries in the U.S. Congress and elsewhere, organize annual
telethons raising millions of dollars to be targeted to the
development of Israel and Armenia; hence, the representatives of these
Diasporas are believed to be worth getting the right to vote. `I'm not
sure this is an unbiased approach, however, amendments to the
Electoral Code should be discussed and even passed not ahead of
elections, but in advance, perhaps even after another tenure,' Tsinker
underlined.
Basing on the above-said, it is worth mentioning that the idea of
participation of the Armenian Diaspora in elections is not new; it was
first voiced following the adoption of the Law on Dual Citizenship.
Yet the suffrage cannot be viewed apart from other rights and duties
of an Armenian citizen, namely the residence in the homeland during at
least six months, the duty of tax payment and military service.
Without all this, participation in the parliamentary and presidential
elections will not be understood by the Armenian citizens.
Karine Ter-Sahakian