IT IS ENVISAGED TO STAMP VOTER’S PASSPORT IN CASE OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 15, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. At the evening sitting on November
15, the RA National Assembly started the discussion of the package of
amendments and additions to the RA Electoral Code. Samvel Nikoyan –
the co-author of the draft, secretary of the "Republican Party of
Armenia" faction, presented the new articles included in the package
after its adoption in the first reading. Only after their adoption in
first reading at the November 16 special session, the whole package
will be discussed in second reading.

In particular, at the suggestion of "ARF" faction, the requirement
on putting a stamp about participation in the voting on the last
page of the voter’s identity document during national elections was
stipulated in the draft. With the aim of preventing cases of double
voting, the availability of the indicated stamp will be checked before
the voter casts his envelope in the ballot-box. In order to ensure
secrecy of the vote, the "Orinats Yerkir" faction’s proposal was
accepted, according to which voting booths are placed on tables in
the polling station in such a position that the voter will face the
electoral commission with his back turned to the wall (when voting),
or else voting booths are fixed to the wall.

Before the draft’s discussion, Armen Martirosian stated on behalf
of "Heritage" faction that their faction condemns the "gross,
aggressive actions" committed against the leader of the youth wing
of the Social-Democrat Hunchak Party Narek Galstian, as a result of
which the young man was taken to hospital. The faction stated that
it will not participate in the discussion and left the hall in protest.