Armenia votes for new President
armradio.am
19.02.2008 08:15
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 of the Republic 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, 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 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.