Voter turnout 33.09% at presidential elections in Armenia by 2:00 pm
18.02.2013,
17:52
A total of 836,710 voters or 33.09% have their presidential election ballots cast by 14:00 local time, member of Armenia’s central electoral commission Silva Markosyan said.
YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. A total of 836,710 voters or 33.09% have their presidential election ballots cast by 14:00 local time, member of Armenia’s central electoral commission Silva Markosyan said.
Presidential vote is currently under way in Armenia today, at a total of 1,988 ballot stations across the country.
“By 14:00, 246,352 voters or 29.87% of the overall number cast their ballots in Yerevan”, she said.
Voter turnout in Armenia’s regions was as follows: Aragatsotn – 36.18% (41,351 voters), Ararat – 38.53% (82,101), Armavir – 28.93% (64,976), Gegharkunik – 38.25% (71,330), Lori – 36.34% (86,433), Kotayk – 30.02% (69,806), Shirak – 30.02% (71,540), Siunik – 40.09% (44,008), Vayots Dzor – 33.72% (15,930) and Tavush – 39.53% (42,883), according to the report.
In the previous presidential elections of February 19, 2008, 36.48% of eligible voters or 864,952 people cast their ballots by 14:00.
According to the police, 2,505,908 voters were included on Armenia’s electoral register as February 17.
A total of 6,251 representatives of 26 local NGOs and 632 observers from twelve international organizations will be watching the presidential ballot. In particular, international observers’ missions are from OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, CIS mission, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, CE Parliamentary Assembly, CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, International expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
Under the Armenian law, preliminary results of the vote are to be announced not later that February 19, 20:00; the final results will be declared seven days after the vote.
Seven contenders are running for the country’s president today: incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan, well-known Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan and specialist in epic studies Vardan Sedrakyan.–0--
