Armenia’s National Assembly Tightens Voting Eligibility Rules

YEREVAN — Citizens living abroad or those who have been absent from Armenia for an extended period will no longer be able to vote in Armenian elections unless they have lived in Armenia for at least one year during the past two years.

On July 3, the National Assembly adopted, in the second and final reading, a package of legislative amendments that significantly tightens voting requirements. The changes are aimed at preventing the practice of citizens traveling to Armenia from abroad in large numbers solely to participate in elections.

Under the new regulations, in order to vote in National Assembly elections or referendums, a citizen who has reached the age of 18 must have been physically present in Armenia for 366 or more days during the previous two years, or 730 days. Arriving in the country on the eve of an election or on voting day itself will not be sufficient. To be eligible to vote, a citizen must have returned to Armenia at least 48 days before a regular election and at least 28 days before an early election.

The bill was authored by Civil Contract faction MPs Alkhas Ghazaryan, Arusyak Manavazyan, Hasmik Hakobyan and Arusyak Julhakyan. The justification for the draft states that the amendments were prompted by the June 7 parliamentary elections, during which a mass arrival of citizens from abroad was observed, particularly for the purpose of voting.

A similarly strict residency requirement is also being introduced for local self-government elections. In this case, in addition to having lived in Armenia for one year during the previous two years, citizens must also have been registered on the voter list of the given community for at least six months before election day.

At the same time, the law sets out clear exceptions for citizens whose prolonged absence is considered justified and will not result in the loss of voting rights. This group includes students enrolled in foreign higher education institutions, public servants who are abroad for official duties, employees of diplomatic or consular missions, and family members living abroad with them.

The legislative amendments to the Electoral Code and the Law on Referendums will enter into force on the day following their official publication.