In the run up to the 20 June early parliamentary election in Armenia, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) hosted a closed expert roundtable to discuss the accessibility of elections under the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as general issues of accessibility that existed even prior to the pandemic outbreak, including access for vulnerable groups of voters or voters with disabilities.

Even though the number of infections in Armenia has been decreasing steadily, it is still necessary to put certain measures in place to ensure everyone’s safety on Election Day. International organizations such as IFES  have been consulting closely with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia, offering training and recommendations on how to mitigate pandemic-associated risks and to bring the elections in line with international best practices. New hygiene norms for elections have been established, which have been developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Health in Armenia, and UNDP has provided support in joint report by IFES-Armenia and Agate NGO, funded by USAID, it was found that none of the 1,987 polling stations monitored (which represents 99% of polling stations across Armenia) can be considered fully accessible; only 547 were partially accessible. With inaccessible polling stations and no alternative voting methods, the equal right to vote for vulnerable groups in society is not ensured. There is also a lack of voter material for voters with disabilities, which affects their ability to make an informed choice. Initial efforts have been made with braille templates; however, it was found that not all those who were visually-impaired were able to read braille.

A positive takeaway from the pandemic has been that there is now an ongoing debate on offering alternative solutions, not only concerning access to elections, but also in the employment sphere, which previously was not the case. Participation by vulnerable groups in elections and politics may therefore change, but it is unlikely that significant changes improving the accessibility of elections will be implemented in time for this election on 20 June.

For inquiries, please contact moessinger@european-exchange.org.

This roundtable series is financially supported by the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation.