Party member alleges serious irregularities in Vagharshapat voter lists

Municipal elections in the Armenian town of Vagharshapat were overshadowed on Sunday by allegations of significant inaccuracies in the official voter lists, with one party member describing the situation as “outrageous”.

Ruzan Stepanyan, a representative of the Pan-Armenian Front Party at polling station 14/13, told Panorama.am that several voters discovered irregular and unexpected registrations tied to their home addresses.

“The voter lists are in a disgraceful state,” Stepanyan said. “People have come in and found deceased neighbors registered at their residential address. One voter was shocked to see a person he’d never heard of listed as living in his home.”

In another case, she said a voter learned that his son, who has lived in Russia for a long time, was still included on the active voter roll for their address.

“I honestly do not understand how these lists were compiled,” Stepanyan said. “For years we have seen that such ‘voters’ somehow turn into votes and we know very well for whom those votes tend to appear.”

Stepanyan stressed that her criticism was directed neither at local election officials nor at voters themselves, but at the state bodies responsible for maintaining accurate civil records.

“I’m appealing to the passport and registration services,” she said. “People are coming in surprised, upset and leaving frustrated.”

Eight parties and blocs are running in the Vagharshapat City Council elections set to conclude at 8 p.m.