Vote of Dissent: “Against all” Option to be considered for Future Elections
13:42, May 14, 2012 | News | Electoral Rights, Right to Fair Trial
During the May 6th parliamentary elections in Armenia, about 53,000 voters invalidated their ballots by indicating that they did not favor any of the candidates. This demonstration of ill-will has led Tigran Mukuchyan, Head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to say that the Commission is willing to consider an “Against All” option on future ballots.
“It will become one of the primary proposals that will be discussed at the newly formed National Assembly,” Mukuchyan said at a press conference on Wednesday.
According to Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor before the parliamentary elections, The Administrative Court requested to add the “Against All” option in ballots; however it declined the request, On the grounds that it was an unreasonable request. According to the Electoral Code of Armenia, the “Against all” option is applicable only if one candidate is nominated. Meanwhile, according to Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, this is a violation of equality of right to vote.
“When voters are deprived of an opportunity to vote “Against All” they have to vote regardless, that is to say, the absence of this option restricts people’s free election will,” Sakunts told ArmeniaNow.
“Had the option “Against All” existed during the May 6th voting, citizens would not have invalidated their ballots. This would have had its impact upon the candidates, as the parties would have had to work harder to present better platforms, and they would have made more efforts to gain voters’ support,” Sakunts says.
He added that during the next six months, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor will turn to the Constitutional Court of Armenia to appeal the constitutionality of that provision in the Electoral Code.