YEREVAN. - Armenia’s Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan agrees with certain proposals of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe to the bill on electoral reforms in Armenia. However, he categorically rejects some of them.  

Minister agrees with the experts that one should be cautious while using video cameras and scanners for passports during the voting, as it can eventually lead to identification of individuals who participated in the vote. Hrayr Tovmasyan categorically disagreed with the proposal of the Venice Commission to remove requirement for compulsory citizenship and residence in Armenia. He also disagreed with the proposal to hold new elections in the areas where violations were registered.

Draft bill on electoral reforms provides for disclosing of total number of voters the day before elections. The document also contains a provision under which the Central Election Commission will be obliged to post on its website all information about the electoral process. In addition, it provides for free provision of all state and municipal halls for election propaganda.