The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) welcomes the increased quota in Armenia’s new Electoral Code for each gender on candidate lists from 20 to 25 per cent with a requirement for each gender be represented in each integer group of four candidates in the list.
According to it, if a candidate from the underrepresented gender does not assume or vacates their seat, it is awarded to the next candidate on the list from the same gender.In a report, summing up ODIHR’s Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) conducted from 30 November to 2 December 2016 in Armenia, the authors refer to the Electoral Code provision, allowing eligible voters who have attained the age of 25, have resided in and been a citizen of (only) Armenia for the preceding four years, and have a command of the Armenian language to be elected.The document positively reflects on the provision prohibiting judges, prosecutors, military personnel, police officers, other categories of civil servants, and election commissioners to nominate candidates. It notes that candidate lists can be nominated by political parties and party alliances.
While a list may include nonparty members, the law does not provide a possibility for candidates to stand individually in parliamentary elections. Contestants must submit a financial deposit, which is returned if the list receives more than four per cent of the valid votes. The document notes that in line with previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, the grounds for de-registration of candidates have been limited and clarified.