YEREVAN. – The sixth presidential election in Armenia got underway Monday at 8am, and it will continue until 8pm. The President of Armenia is elected for a five-year term. A total of 1,988 precincts are registered throughout the country.

The Central Electoral Commission will publicize data on voter turnout once every three hours, and the first data—for 11am—will be made public at noon.

To note, about 2.5 million people have the right to vote. More than half of the registered voters must take part for the elections to be recognized valid. To win in the first round, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes (50%+1). If not, a runoff will be held in two weeks.

The seven presidential candidates that are running in the election are: Ruling Republican Party leader and incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, opposition Heritage Party Chairman and former FM Raffi Hovannisian, opposition Freedom Party Chairman and former PM Hrant Bagratyan, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan, “Radio Hay” Company Manager and political scientists Andreas Ghukasyan, and non-party affiliate and epic poetry specialist Vardan Sedrakyan.