Tweet
VOTE OF DISSENT: OPTION OF "AGAINST ALL" TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
10.05.12 | 15:30
During the May 6 parliamentary elections in Armenia, about 53,000
voters invalidated their ballots by indicating that they did not
favor any of the candidates. The demonstration of ill-will has led
Tigran Mukuchyan, head of the Central Election Commission (CEC)
to say that the Commission is willing to consider an "Against All"
option on future ballots.
"It will become one of the primary proposals that will be discussed
at the newly formed National Assembly," Mukuchyan said at a press
conference on Wednesday.
Yet before the parliamentary elections, the Helsinki Citizens Assembly
Vanadzor Office in Vanadzor turned to Administrative court asking
to add the "Against All" option in ballots; however it declined the
request, reasoning that it was not grounded.
According to the Electoral Code of Armenia, the "Against" option is
applicable only in case if one candidate is nominated. Meanwhile,
according to Artur Sakunts, head of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly
Vanadzor Office, this is a violation of equality of right to vote.
"When voters are deprived of an opportunity to vote "Against All"
they have to vote regardless, that is to say, the absence of this
option restricts people's free election will," Sakunts told ArmeniaNow.
"Had the option "Against All" existed during the May 6 vote, people
would not have ruined their ballots. This would have had its impact
upon the political field, because the parties would have worked harder
to present better platforms, and would have made more efforts to gain
voters' support," Sakunts says.
He added that during the next six months the Helsinki Citizens
Assembly Vanadzor Office will turn to the Constitutional Court of
Armenia appealing to the constitutionality of that provision in the
Electoral Code.
From: A. Papazian
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
10.05.12 | 15:30
During the May 6 parliamentary elections in Armenia, about 53,000
voters invalidated their ballots by indicating that they did not
favor any of the candidates. The demonstration of ill-will has led
Tigran Mukuchyan, head of the Central Election Commission (CEC)
to say that the Commission is willing to consider an "Against All"
option on future ballots.
"It will become one of the primary proposals that will be discussed
at the newly formed National Assembly," Mukuchyan said at a press
conference on Wednesday.
Yet before the parliamentary elections, the Helsinki Citizens Assembly
Vanadzor Office in Vanadzor turned to Administrative court asking
to add the "Against All" option in ballots; however it declined the
request, reasoning that it was not grounded.
According to the Electoral Code of Armenia, the "Against" option is
applicable only in case if one candidate is nominated. Meanwhile,
according to Artur Sakunts, head of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly
Vanadzor Office, this is a violation of equality of right to vote.
"When voters are deprived of an opportunity to vote "Against All"
they have to vote regardless, that is to say, the absence of this
option restricts people's free election will," Sakunts told ArmeniaNow.
"Had the option "Against All" existed during the May 6 vote, people
would not have ruined their ballots. This would have had its impact
upon the political field, because the parties would have worked harder
to present better platforms, and would have made more efforts to gain
voters' support," Sakunts says.
He added that during the next six months the Helsinki Citizens
Assembly Vanadzor Office will turn to the Constitutional Court of
Armenia appealing to the constitutionality of that provision in the
Electoral Code.
From: A. Papazian