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On April 1, the regular debate in 4+4+4 format on the RA Draft Electoral Code (EC) was held.

The representatives of the power listened to the approaches and recommendations of the opposition forces and civil society, particularly, related to the cleaning and the specification of the election lists, the voter’s registration through e-system, the inking of the fingerprints and its further use, the citizens’ participation in the elections with one united document, identification card, the open and closed electoral lists and the publication of the list of the voters in the elections. They touched upon the version of the semi-open lists, in this context the RA NA Chief of Staff-General Secretary, the Draft EC co-author Hrayr Tovmasyan has noted that the system of the semi-open lists will further promote the establishment of parties, the expansion of the inner democracy and the open lists the split of the parties.

Exchange of thoughts took place on the abovementioned issues.

The attendees also debated details regarding the electoral process for expressing consensus position.

The representatives of the opposition forces and civil society continued claiming their recommendation: i.e. to issue the voters' signed lists, which the representatives of the power don't consider right, deeming it breach of secrecy of the voter's electoral right. The Venice Commission also defends this viewpoint, underlining that the list of voters, who took part in the elections is not subjected to publication.

The ANC Representative Levon Zurabyan has noted that the ANC refuses the implementation of the voter's registration through e-system. The Minister-Chief of Staff of the RA Government, the co-author of the Draft EC Davit Harutyunyan has informed that the electronic means proposed will not replace the tools under use, but they will add them.

The ARF Representative Armen Rustamyan highlighted the accounting of those absent from the country, which will let those responsible for the election to check if the voting was held or not.

The next sitting will be held on April 5, at 6 p.m.