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Out-of-Country Voting: Problems and Solutions

Date
17 February 2020
Time
13:00
Location
Parliament of Armenia
Parliament of Armenia. Image credit: Hovo Hanragitakan@Flickr

Armenia’s parliament is currently developing a package of proposals to reform several aspects of its electoral process. One area of focus is the current system of out-of-country voting (OCV), which provides the opportunity for diplomatic and military personnel posted outside the country to cast their ballots online in national elections and referenda.

Upon the invitation of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Electoral Reform, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) will be co-organizing a roundtable discussion for the Advisory Council and a broader public discussion on Armenia’s OCV system, considerations from international practices, and possible solutions to its current challenges. The events are scheduled to take place in Yerevan during 17 and18 February 2020 and will bring together Armenian policmakers, civil society organizations and other electoral support providers.

Armenia is one of the few countries globally that limit OCV to a small number of its public servants posted abroad. Ongoing debates in the country include questions whether the current online voting system ensures the secrecy of the vote and security against possible breaches, should the system be broadened to enfranchise a larger group of Armenian citizens living abroad, what are the operational challenges and financial costs of each of these scenarios, and others. International IDEA, recognized as a leading international actor in providing comparative expertise on OCV systems (handbook, database), was particularly requested to share an overview of current OCV practices across the globe, with the focus on lessons in their design and implementation.

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