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Location: Armenia
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
Reform of electoral legislation should be carried out in an inclusive manner and all stakeholders are encouraged to make every reasonable effort to build broad consensus over the reform, taking into account all relevant previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Regulations on referenda should be further aligned with international standards for democratic electoral processes and consideration should be given to incorporating them into the Electoral Code.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Legal Framework
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
The legal framework for complaints and appeals should be reviewed to guarantee more effective remedy. In particular, the legal standing to bring complaints in the electoral process should be granted more widely. Timelines for the submission and review of challenges to election and referenda results should allow complainants to prepare applications and ensure timely remedy.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Legal Framework
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
Prosecutors’ offices and other law enforcement bodies, and the CEC should follow up vigorously and transparently on all allegations of irregularities associated with the referendum process in a timely fashion, initiating and pursuing criminal or administrative action against alleged perpetrators as appropriate. Prosecutors, police, and the CEC should react promptly to reported electoral violations during all phases of the electoral process to identify and prevent possible abuses.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Referendum Administration
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
As outlined in previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, the relevant authorities should improve the accuracy of the voter register and seek consensus on effective solutions to address persistent perceptions that the presence on voter lists of citizens not present in Armenia may be abused to facilitate voting on behalf of those absent or other irregularities.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Referendum Administration
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
The relevant authorities should introduce effective and consistent safeguards against multiple voting, applied to all voters independently of the type of document used for voter identification purposes.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Referendum Administration
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
The authorities should consider options for improving accessibility to the polling stations and providing additional mechanisms to allow voters with reduced mobility to exercise their right to vote, so as to further promote universal suffrage.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Referendum Administration
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
While proxies for political parties should in no way be constrained from exercising all functions provided for by law, they must not act in an intimidating manner or interfere with voting day activities. Political parties should provide appropriate guidance and training, and must bear legal and political responsibility for the conduct of their proxies
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Referendum Administration
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
As previously recommended by the OSCE/ODIHR, the CEC testing of observers should not be mandatory or prerequisite for accreditation of citizen observers.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Referendum Administration
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
The legal framework for elections and referenda should regulate the use of public funds for campaigning to guarantee equality of opportunity and freedom of voters to form an opinion. The Referendum Law should be amended to impose stricter limits on campaigning by public officials.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign, Campaign Finance and Media
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
To enhance transparency, campaign finance regulations for referenda should be amended to provide that detailed financial reports on referendum funds and the results of CEC audit of fund transactions are made publicly available and posted on the CEC website.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign, Campaign Finance and Media
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
Measures should be taken to ensure full transparency of media ownership by requiring and enabling the NCTR to clearly identify the ultimate and benefiting owners of media houses. Additional controls and sanctions could be imposed as to ensure that media outlets provide the required ownership and funding information in a comprehensive and timely manner to the competent bodies. The information on media ownership and funding sources should be available to the public.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign, Campaign Finance and Media
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
The Electoral Code should be amended to provide general guidelines for the media regarding the coverage of campaigns, taking into the account the professional standards, equitable coverage, impartiality, and balance, supplementing general requirements with more detailed ones, which should be applicable by the type of the elections and referenda. Such provisions, however, should not limit nor prevent independent editorial coverage of the campaigns.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign, Campaign Finance and Media
Armenia
2015
EET
Referendum
Consideration could be given to enhance the oversight role of the NCTR during and outside of the campaign period. The NCTR could publish detailed campaign coverage guidelines and media monitoring methodology which could include assessing the tone of coverage. Rather than relying on the data submitted by media outlets, the NCTR should conduct media monitoring fully and independently in a continuous and consistent manner. Media monitoring reports could be published on a regular basis throughout the whole campaign period, regardless of its duration.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign, Campaign Finance and Media
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure legal certainty, changes to the electoral legal framework should be made well in advance of elections, through an inclusive process. The timeframe between the adoption of legal changes and their implementation should allow for sufficient voter education and for electoral stakeholders to be able to familiarize themselves with the applicable rules.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Legal Framework and Electoral System
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
All regulations and clarifications on electoral procedures, including ballot validity, the sealing of ballot boxes and the counting and tabulation of votes, including those cast by mobile voting, should be comprehensive, adopted in formal sessions of the CEC, and applied uniformly.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure equal suffrage in accordance with international standards, restrictions to the right to vote based on mental disability should be removed.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Secondary thematic area:
Voter Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Voter Registration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Laws and regulations regarding the misuse of administrative resources should be further elaborated, credible reports should be properly investigated and adequate, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions should be introduced.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Environment
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Public officials, political parties, their candidates and supporters should refrain from using inflammatory rhetoric. Clearly defined non-criminal dissuasive measures should be introduced, while protecting freedom of speech.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Environment
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The CEC should publish the schedule of TEC sessions, all TEC decisions, and the signed TEC protocols with results disaggregated by polling station, on its website in a systematic and timely manner. In addition, all information and documents of public interest, including preliminary results protocols and preliminary voter lists, should remain available online.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The editorial independence of the public media and citizens’ access to impartial, critical and analytical political programmes should be further strengthened. In this respect, extending requirements for impartial election coverage by public media during the complete election cycle could be considered. This includes non-preferential reporting on the activities of public and state officials also outside official campaign periods.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with the Electoral Code and in order to ensure a level playing field during the election campaign, the CEC should consider alleged cases of misuse of administrative resources in the election campaign as falling within its competences and, when necessary, apply electoral and administrative sanctions such as warnings and fines.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Robust efforts are needed to address vote-buying and pressure on voters, both through civic awareness campaigns, and through investigations and prosecutions, in order to promote confidence in the electoral process. To ensure that cases of pressure and vote buying are reported, already available anonymous reporting options should be unified and implemented as a separate mechanism by a trusted entity. Furthermore, adequate sanctions against pressure on voters and vote buying should be further defined by law.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Environment
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The PVD should publish regular and detailed information on the type and number of updates and corrections performed, including about newly added and deceased voters.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Voter Registration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to introducing measures which would enhance participation in the election process by persons with disabilities.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance the integrity and professionalism of the election administration and of electoral operations, the CEC could consider prescribing minimum qualifying criteria for PEC chairpersons and secretaries and ensure that all party-nominated PEC members are sufficiently trained. Parliamentary groups and parties should consider giving priority to the most qualified candidates.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with international standards, national authorities such as the CEC and the PVD should provide gender-disaggregated data on the electoral process, including on registered voters on the preliminary and final voter lists, the composition of lower-level election commissions, the number of candidates per list, and voter turnout.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Women
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
While ensuring meaningful access to the voter lists, consideration should be given to safeguarding voter data privacy and secrecy of participation in the vote, including through confidentiality measures.
Recommendation # in final report:
14
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Voter Registration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Restrictions on candidate rights for persons with more than one citizenship should be reconsidered, and related criminalization should be removed.
Recommendation # in final report:
15
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
As previously recommended by ODIHR, the legal framework should be amended to provide for accounting and reporting of all campaign-related expenditures and contributions, including organizational expenditures and those incurred before the official campaign period and the institutions responsible for campaign finance oversight should be sufficiently resourced for their duties.
Recommendation # in final report:
16
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure full transparency of media ownership, legislative measures should be taken to provide that all information on ownership of media outlets is publicly disclosed, and disclosure should be legally enforceable.
Recommendation # in final report:
17
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to enhancing the capacity of the Commission for Television and Radio to conduct media monitoring of political coverage thoroughly and independently, including during the periods between elections. The Commission should exercise its legal right to conduct such monitoring regularly, to ensure diversity within political programming.
Recommendation # in final report:
18
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The legal deadlines for consideration of pre-election appeals should be adjusted in line with election deadlines in order to guarantee timely implementation of judgments and effective remedies against electoral violations.
Recommendation # in final report:
19
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The courts and other adjudicating bodies should implement the laws, including the Electoral Code, in a uniform and consistent manner. Trainings and the sharing of practices should be introduced to this effect.
Recommendation # in final report:
20
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
As previously recommended, the provision disqualifying newly created organizations from being accredited as observers should be reconsidered.
Recommendation # in final report:
21
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Citizen and International Observers
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Public authorities should, where possible, take into consideration enhanced access for persons with physical disabilities when selecting polling station premises. Authorities could also consider setting a minimum size of polling station to prevent overcrowding. Considerations could be given to involving TECs in the process of selecting suitable polling stations.
Recommendation # in final report:
22
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Secondary thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The CEC should enhance voter education on electoral procedures, including on assisted voting, the prevention of group voting, and the importance of ballot secrecy.
Recommendation # in final report:
23
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2021
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The CEC should enhance the trainings of lower-level election commission members with regard to the results protocols, with a special focus on the vote count and the completion of results protocols for PEC members, and on data entry for TEC members. Mandatory participation in CEC trainings should be considered, especially for PEC chairpersons and secretaries.
Recommendation # in final report:
24
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Authorities should undertake legal review of measures to guarantee the protection of voters’ private data while retaining meaningful access by electoral stakeholders to the voter lists.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Voter Registration
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Efforts should continue among authorities, parties, media, the civil society and citizens to sustain trust in the integrity of the electoral process by eradicating all forms of electoral malfeasance and fostering human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To increase the transparency of the work of election administration, the CEC should systematically and timely publish all CEC and TEC decisions on its website.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
In order to address gaps and ambiguities identified in this and past ODIHR reports, the legal framework should be reviewed well in advance of the next elections, through an inclusive legislative process.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Legal Framework
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Authorities should continue to support editorial independence of the public media and foster citizens’ access to impartial, critical and analytical political information and programmes, including when reporting on activities of officials. In addition, diversification of sources of financing for public media could be considered.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The CEC should enhance the PEC trainings on the results protocols, with a special focus on the vote count and the completion of results protocols. To ensure the integrity of election results, all corrections to the result protocols made during tabulation should be consistent, accountable and made according to the law.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Authorities should take a more proactive role in ensuring an accessible environment for electoral participation of persons with disabilities and consider measures to enhance access to voting for persons with reduced mobility. Premises which lack accessibility should be identified well in advance and alternative solutions offered where required.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Overcrowding in polling stations should be addressed, for example, through more suitable premises, additional voting booths and proper queue control. The CEC should enhance voter education programmes, including on preventing family voting and importance of ballot secrecy.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Efforts should be made to increase the expertise and capacity of the election administration and courts in election dispute resolution. In order to increase transparency and easy access to information related to dispute resolution, the CEC could consider maintaining a permanent public register of complaints and appeals received and considered throughout the electoral process.
Recommendation # in final report:
19
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
As previously recommended, the provisions disqualifying newly-created organizations to be accredited as observers should be reconsidered. The legal deadline for application for observers’ accreditation could be made closer to election day.
Recommendation # in final report:
20
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Election Observation
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Deadlines for submission and resolving complaints filed to TECs and appeals against the TEC decisions after the election day should be adjusted to allow for effective remedy.
Recommendation # in final report:
18
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Restrictions on voting rights of persons with mental disabilities should be removed.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Voter Registration
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Awareness should be raised by and among all electoral stakeholders about the importance of equal participation of women and men in public and political life, with a particular emphasis on the role of women within political parties. Consideration should be given to enhancing special measures to promote women candidates. This could include placing candidates from the under-represented gender in every second position on national candidate lists.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Women
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Electoral Campaign
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to enhancing the capacity of the CTR to conduct media monitoring of political coverage fully and independently, including between elections. As previously recommended by ODIHR, consideration could also be given to enhancing the methodology so as to allow for continuous daily quantitative and qualitative monitoring, including an assessment of the tone of coverage.
Recommendation # in final report:
16
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Measures should be taken to ensure full transparency of media ownership by requiring clear identification of the ultimate owners. All information on ownership and sources of funding of media outlets should be publicly disclosed.
Recommendation # in final report:
15
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
As previously recommended by ODIHR, the legal framework should be amended to provide for accounting and reporting of all campaign-related expenditures and contributions, including organizational expenditures and those incurred before the official campaign period.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Legislator and the CEC should clearly define the OAS mandate for financial control and provide it with necessary material and human resources in order to ensure that the OAS is fulfilling a meaningful oversight of campaign finance.
Recommendation # in final report:
14
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Restrictions on candidate rights for persons with more than one citizenship should be removed.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Authorities could consider establishing an obligation for the public broadcasters to organize debates during the electoral campaign.
Recommendation # in final report:
17
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2018
Early election
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The authorities should develop voter education campaigns to promote media literacy, responsibility and social inclusion. To inhibit inflammatory and insulting language, electoral contestants could develop and adhere to a code of conduct and themselves model good practice.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2021
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To guarantee equal suffrage, the authorities should consider measures to enhance access to voting procedures for persons with physical disabilities and reduced mobility.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
In order to ensure uniform implementation of the law and provide sufficient guidance to lower-level commissions the CEC should clarify legal provisions through binding decisions.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The authorities should invite observers from international NGOs and other appropriate institutions, and facilitate their access to all stages of electoral process without undue restrictions.
Recommendation # in final report:
23
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Observation
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to enhancing special measures to promote women candidates. This could include placing candidates from the under-represented gender in at least every second position on national lists, establishing a minimum number of women candidates on district lists, and incentivising political parties to increase the number of their women candidates.
Recommendation # in final report:
15
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Women
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Candidate/Party Rights and Registration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The legal framework should provide for reporting on all campaign-related expenses, including organizational expenditures such as for campaign offices, transport, and communication.
Recommendation # in final report:
16
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Campaign Financing
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance the opportunity of voters to compare electoral programmes of the contestants, it could be considered to require the public broadcaster to organize campaign debates with contestants.
Recommendation # in final report:
20
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Further efforts should be undertaken to amend the legal framework to address the gaps and ambiguities identified in this report as well as previous recommendations of ODIHR and Venice Commission. Any amendments should be based on broad consultation and be adopted well in advance of the next elections.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Legal framework and Electoral System
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with previous OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations, the provision disqualifying newly created organizations from electoral observation should be reconsidered and the deadline for application for observer accreditation could be made closer to election day.
Recommendation # in final report:
22
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Observation
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Efforts should be undertaken to address overcrowding at polling stations. Consideration could be given to conduct time-and-motion studies to adjust the number of voters per polling station, to identify sufficiently large voting premises, or to increase the number of polling stations.
Recommendation # in final report:
24
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Collaboration between different government institutions on measures to reduce the number of voters without a complete address should continue in order to resolve the remaining issues with the accuracy of voter data.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Voter Rights and Registration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The authorities should continue to develop effective safeguards against multiple voting and to ensure the secrecy of the vote, which should be implemented adequately and consistently. This could include enhanced training of election staff and targeted voter education, as well as requiring that voters be informed about their right and obligation to secrecy at the polling station. Further steps should be taken to prevent interference by unauthorised people in the voting process.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The CEC could further intensify its efforts to provide widely accessible and comprehensive voter education materials for all groups of voters, including persons with various types of disabilities, national minorities, and those in remote areas.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Based on consultation with journalists and media NGOs, the NCTR should issue clear guidelines on the implementation of the requirements of impartiality and equal coverage.
Recommendation # in final report:
17
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The authorities should proactively engage in preventing any misuse of voter list entries, timely prosecuting anyone who conducts electoral malfeasance. A review of measures to guarantee the protection of voter’s private data, while ensuring that meaningful access to the lists is retained, should be undertaken.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Voter Rights and Registration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The distribution of leadership positions in the PECs could be reconsidered to enhance their independence and impartiality.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
A quantitative and qualitative media monitoring of the news, current affairs programs, and debates of the public broadcaster through the year including campaign periods could contribute to ensuring its independent coverage of political and campaign events. Results of the monitoring should be made public on a periodic basis.
Recommendation # in final report:
18
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The election administration should follow all established counting procedures and address procedural mistakes and omissions noted during the reconciliation procedures.
Recommendation # in final report:
25
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Day
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance the transparency and effectiveness of campaign finance oversight, the OAS should have adequate resources, technical expertise, and independence.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Campaign Financing
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Measures should be taken to ensure full transparency of media ownership, for example, by requiring clear identification of the ultimate owners of media outlets. Information on media ownership and funding sources should be available to the public.
Recommendation # in final report:
19
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Media
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Restrictions on voting rights of persons with mental disabilities should be removed.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Voter Rights and Registration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Restrictions on candidate rights for people with dual citizenship should be removed. Consideration should be given to provide possibilities for candidates to stand individually.
Recommendation # in final report:
14
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Candidate/Party Rights and Registration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The election-dispute resolution system would benefit from additional review to eliminate gaps and ambiguities identified in this and previous OSCE/ODIHR reports, including granting wider legal standing to subjects entitled to appeal and setting out sufficient and consistent deadlines for the adjudication of complaints and appeals. All election-related complaints and appeals should be considered within the electoral period and before the finalization of election results.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
The authorities and political parties should undertake utmost measures to increase public trust in the integrity of the elections, including public discouraging of selling and buying votes and to ensure that pressure is not applied on citizens to attend campaign events or vote in a particular way.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
Any changes to the election procedures that involve new technologies should be agreed upon, legislated, tested, and publicized well before elections. To further increase the transparency of new technologies used in elections, the CEC should publish detailed technical specifications and provide greater information on their use to voters.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Armenia
2017
EOM
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure effective remedy, the CEC and the courts should give full and impartial consideration to the substance of complaints, act impartially and transparently, and follow due legal process. Any allegations of pressure and intimidation should be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the authorities.
Recommendation # in final report:
21
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2018
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals