YEREVAN. –  Armenia is holding parliamentary elections on Sunday, April 2.

 According to the new constitutional reforms, which had been adopted based on December 2015 referendum, the National Assembly of the sixth convocation will have 105 deputies (4 of them by special quotes for national minorities), instead of the previous 131 parliamentarians.

The parliamentary elections of April 2, 2017 will be the only nationwide elections to be held in the next five years, since, according to the same constitutional reforms, Armenia will become a parliamentary republic. The president of the country, becomes a ceremonial figure. After April 9, 2018, when the term of Serzh Sargsyan expires, the National Assembly will elect the new president.

There will be operating 2009 polling stations on the territory of Armenia from 08.00 am to 20.00 pm Yerevan time. Votes outside Armenia are not envisaged. The elections for the first time are held exclusively based on proportional system (party lists). At the same time, for the first time votes based on so-called open lists are applied as well.

The voter has a choice: either s/he can vote for a political party (bloc), or, in addition, s/he can vote for one of the candidates nominated by his preferred political force in the territorial constituency. In the first case, the voter needs to enclose the ballot of the preferred political force into the envelope without any notes. In the second case, a voter will check the name of the candidate nominated by his/her preferred political force in a certain territorial constituency.                        

In total, 5 political parties and 4 blocs will take part in the elections. The parties need to overcome the 5% barrier, whereas the blocs 7% for the seats in the parliament.