Armenia's election commission rebuts claims of 30,000-vote discrepancy

Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) issued a formal clarification on Saturday, rejecting allegations of a 30,000-vote discrepancy between voter signatures and ballots cast in recent parliamentary elections.

The commission underscored that the country’s electoral code explicitly allows for differences between published voter lists and overall participation figures. According to Article 13 of the law, signatures from military units, correctional facilities, and detention centers are not subject to public disclosure, meaning the tally of published signatures will not fully align with the total number of voters.

The CEC emphasized that claims of a 30,000-ballot gap are “inaccurate and unfounded,” urging political actors and the public to refrain from what they described as baseless speculation. “The reported figures do not correspond to reality,” the statement read, adding that the integrity of the vote count remains intact.

The commission reiterated its call for restraint, warning that misinformation risks undermining public trust in Armenia’s electoral process.