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The head of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Vahagn Hovakimyan, has said that the electoral system is fully prepared for the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7 and highlighted that no major violations have been recorded during a vigorous and highly competitive campaign involving 18 political parties and alliances.
In an interview with Armenpress, Hovakimyan said that most reported issues have been technical in nature.
He also highlighted what he described as unprecedented international attention to the elections, noting that nearly all diplomatic missions in Armenia will have accredited visitors present on election day.
Hovakimyan said that during the election campaign period, the Central Electoral Commission's work had been divided into two main areas: implementing the organizational processes of the elections and responding to issues and shortcomings arising during the campaign.
“Eighteen political forces are participating in the campaign. All of them are actively using campaign tools, the rhetoric is quite sharp, and the contest is intense. However, under these conditions, the issues recorded have been mainly of a technical nature,” the CEC chairman said.
The most common violations have been related to the placement of campaign posters in unauthorized locations. Although such cases have decreased compared to previous years, they continue to be recorded.
Addressing reports of the alleged misuse of administrative resources, Hovakimyan explained that the Electoral Code considers administrative resource abuse to occur when a public official uses resources provided by virtue of their position for campaign purposes or exerts influence on subordinates by compelling them to participate in political events.
“If a state or municipal employee participates in a campaign event during working hours on their own initiative, this is not considered misuse of administrative resources but rather a failure to perform work duties, which should be assessed by that employee’s supervisor,” he explained, emphasizing that submissions concerning the alleged misuse of administrative resources are immediately forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office for legal assessment.
Hovakimyan added that about 80 percent of the submissions received by the CEC during the campaign concerned voter lists and the correction of voter registration data.
The CEC also received around two dozen complaints and submissions directly related to the electoral process, mainly concerning the alleged misuse of administrative resources, campaigning, or observer activities.
Summing up the preparatory work, the CEC chairman said that the electoral system is fully prepared for the June 7 vote.
“The training of members and chairpersons of precinct election commissions has been completed. All materials intended for equipping polling stations have been provided. The delivery of ballots and envelopes has already begun,” Hovakimyan said, adding that the CEC is currently operating around the clock.
Hovakimyan highlighted the unprecedented attention being paid to the June 7 elections by the international community.
“I do not recall any election that attracted such a high level of interest from international organizations and diplomatic missions. Nearly all embassies accredited in Armenia will have accredited visitors on election day,” the CEC chairman said.