The requirement of 6 months registration in local elections contradicts the Constitution

The requirement of 6 months registration in local elections contradicts the Constitution

31.03.2021

Point 3, of Article 48  of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia defines: '' Citizens of the Republic of Armenia having attained the age of eighteen on the day of election or referendum shall have the right to elect and be elected during the elections of local self-government bodies, and the right to participate in a local referendum. The law may prescribe the right of persons not holding citizenship of the Republic of Armenia to take part in the elections of local self-government bodies and in local referenda''.

The Constitution does not provide for any censorship, and no additional restrictions can be provided by law, as the possibility of restrictions can be defined only by the Constitution.

While Point 2, 1st sub-point of Article 2 of  the Electoral Code (EC) of the Republic of Armenia requires a 6-month registration: ' During the elections of local self-government bodies the right to elect shall be reserved to the following persons, having attained the age of 18 as of the voting day and registered in the Population Register of the community where the elections are being held:

(1) citizens of the Republic of Armenia registered for at least 6 months before the voting day''.

It can be assumed that this provision of the EC remained by force of inertia. But the fact is that after the Constitutional change this issue has been raised by us several times, but no changes have been made in the EC.

Therefore, I appeal to Human Rights Defender of Armenia to apply to the RA Constitutional Court within the framework of his powers.

Emin YERITSYAN

The President if Union of Communities of Armenia


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