Akanates Observation Mission
June 20, 2021 Snap Parliamentary Election
Akanates is monitoring the June 20, 2021 snap parliamentary election in all regions and districts of Armenia.
The mission has engaged 583 observers deployed to a nationally representative random sample of 300 polling stations, where they will be monitoring the morning preparation, the poll opening, the voting process and the counting of ballots. In addition, 22 mobile observer teams will be circulating among multiple polling stations and TEC-monitoring teams will be overseeing the work of the territorial electoral commissions.
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Morning Preparation and Poll Opening
General Overview
AT 7:00 am, Akanates received check-in reports from its observers at 96.3% of the 300 polling stations being observed.
There were no major problems with access of Akanates observers to polling stations. There was only one instance of an observer temporarily being impeded from entering the location.
Observers found that polling station officials largely followed the necessary voting preparation procedures, and that the process was smooth, without significant incidents. The presence of unauthorized persons was observed at 2% of polling stations. In 99% of polling stations, the sealed cabinet requirements were followed. At 99% of polling stations, the voter data was properly imported into the Voter Authentication Devices and the printout confirming the number of registered voters was produced successfully.
The presence of campaign material was recorded at 2% of observed polling stations. At 99.6% of polling stations, the room setup guaranteed the secrecy of the vote. There were four polling stations where issues were recorded in this regard, which were subsequently corrected.
Only 27% of observed polling stations are not accessible to voters with disabilities.
Polling stations largely opened on time at 8:00 am; however, 8% opened before 8:00 am, 9% opened from 8:01 – 8:10 am, and 1% opened later than 8:10 am.
Critical Violations
During the opening of the polling stations, the following issues were observed:
Impeding Observer Access
At Polling Station 20/29 in the Chambarak community of Gegharkunik region, the chairman of the precinct electoral commission prevented the entrance of the Akanates observer to the polling station, insisting that the observers should enter at 8:00 am together with the voters. Territorial Electoral Commission No. 20 was informed, as a result of which the observer was able to enter the polling station at 7:30 am.
Presence of Unauthorized Persons
At Polling Station 8/47 in the Shengavit district of Yerevan, the school guard was present in the polling station and voting room. The chairman of the commission was advised to solve the issue, but the latter clarified that the school guard was there to make sure that outsiders do not enter the area. The guard was present in the voting room until 8:25 am. The chairman of the precinct electoral commission refused to record the violation in the poll register.
Problems With Sealed Cabinets
At Polling Station 9/24 in the Kentron (Center) district of Yerevan, the sealed cabinet was opened at 6:45 am. According to the chairman, the members of the commission had arrived early, and that is why the cabinet was opened earlier.
There were recorded instances where some of the ballots were left outside of the sealed cabinets because there was not enough space in the cabinets to fit them all.
Problems with the Ballot Box
In a number of polling stations, circular holes in the bottom of the ballot boxes have been observed.
The Akanates (Eyewitness) coalition is a domestic, non-partisan observation initiative founded in 2018 by Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Journalists’ Club Asparez, “Restart” Scientific and Educational Foundation and Law Development and Protection Foundation. Its main goal is to promote free and fair elections and the improvement of the electoral process and institutions in Armenia.
Akanates will release its next statement at 5:00 pm on June 20, 2021.
