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SECRET BALLOT OR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY?: GOVERNMENT REJECTS OPPOSITION BILL CALLING FOR DISCLOSURE OF VOTERS AFTER POLLS
POLITICS | 18.04.13 | 15:21
Photolure
By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
During its Thursday session the Cabinet of Ministers declined Heritage
faction members' bill on changes and amendments to the Election Code
of Armenia, suggesting publication of names of voters who went to
the polls.
The National Assembly's Heritage faction MPs Ruben Hakobyan, Zaruhi
Postanjian and Tevan Poghosyan had initiated the bill. The reasons
for the government's rejection were presented by Justice Minister
Hrayr Tovmasyan, who said that "international standards come to verify
that the secrecy of ballot also implies secrecy of participation in
the voting, and conditioned by it these changes or these bans are
not envisaged."
"The fact that these documents are not made public creates an
atmosphere of distrust among certain political forces. We have
to take steps to dispel that atmosphere of distrust. I am certain
that we will find some solutions, but the government conclusion on
these suggestions is negative, because they imply violation of our
international commitments," said the minister, adding that the issue
had been discussed also upon the president's instructions to understand
what kind of measures need to be taken to increase publicity, without
at the same time violating Armenia's international commitments.
Heritage faction vice-chairman Armen Martirosyan, who leads the Hello
Yerevan bloc's list in the forthcoming municipal elections, told
ArmeniaNow that the ballot is secret, but not voters' participation.
"If participation was secret there would not be video recording, and
people would have to wear special clothes when going to cast their
ballots to disguise their identity, meanwhile anybody can stand near
the polling station and video record all those going in and coming
out," says Martirosyan, adding that non-publications of lists of
voters who take part in the vote allows the authorities to inflate
their number.
"Apparently, our authorities are not ready to hold elections without
violations," he says.
From: Baghdasarian
POLITICS | 18.04.13 | 15:21
Photolure
By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
During its Thursday session the Cabinet of Ministers declined Heritage
faction members' bill on changes and amendments to the Election Code
of Armenia, suggesting publication of names of voters who went to
the polls.
The National Assembly's Heritage faction MPs Ruben Hakobyan, Zaruhi
Postanjian and Tevan Poghosyan had initiated the bill. The reasons
for the government's rejection were presented by Justice Minister
Hrayr Tovmasyan, who said that "international standards come to verify
that the secrecy of ballot also implies secrecy of participation in
the voting, and conditioned by it these changes or these bans are
not envisaged."
"The fact that these documents are not made public creates an
atmosphere of distrust among certain political forces. We have
to take steps to dispel that atmosphere of distrust. I am certain
that we will find some solutions, but the government conclusion on
these suggestions is negative, because they imply violation of our
international commitments," said the minister, adding that the issue
had been discussed also upon the president's instructions to understand
what kind of measures need to be taken to increase publicity, without
at the same time violating Armenia's international commitments.
Heritage faction vice-chairman Armen Martirosyan, who leads the Hello
Yerevan bloc's list in the forthcoming municipal elections, told
ArmeniaNow that the ballot is secret, but not voters' participation.
"If participation was secret there would not be video recording, and
people would have to wear special clothes when going to cast their
ballots to disguise their identity, meanwhile anybody can stand near
the polling station and video record all those going in and coming
out," says Martirosyan, adding that non-publications of lists of
voters who take part in the vote allows the authorities to inflate
their number.
"Apparently, our authorities are not ready to hold elections without
violations," he says.
From: Baghdasarian