56 Calls Received Regarding Electoral Process by Ombudsman's Hotline by 16:00

As of 16:00 on September 17, the day of the Yerevan City Council elections, the hotline of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia received 56 calls related to the electoral process.

Out of these issues, 16 were resolved positively with the assistance of the Defender. A working group established by the Defender's order investigated around 800 publications in the media and social networks during this period.

The issues raised by the working group mainly pertained to not being notified about polling stations, being registered at a different address, and the challenges faced by individuals wishing to exercise their voting rights at their preferred location on election day, as well as problems relating to lacking a passport, the expiration of its validity, and the eligibility to participate in elections with alternative documentation. Furthermore, individuals with residence status faced difficulties with the absence of their data on voter lists, issues concerning the voting rights for those unable to present themselves at polling stations (such as bedridden patients or individuals with mobility challenges), and the inability to participate in elections when registered in Yerevan for less than six months, along with concerns regarding the voting procedures and the accessibility of polling places.

Continuous monitoring also recorded apparent issues related to voter directions, the presence of unauthorized persons at polling stations, the proper furnishing of voting booths, and the technical condition of identification devices.