The Armenian National Assembly has begun considering a legislative package amending the Constitutional Law on the Electoral Code and the Law on Referendum, introduced by ruling Civil Contract MPs. The draft, discussed in the first reading at an extraordinary parliamentary session on July 2, was revised in line with government proposals.

The amendments introduce a new residency requirement for voting in parliamentary elections. Under the draft, Armenian citizens aged 18 or older would be eligible to vote only if they have been physically present in Armenia for at least 366 days within the 730 days preceding the 48th day before election day. For snap parliamentary elections, the same 366-day requirement would apply to the 730 days immediately preceding the vote.

For local self-government elections, voters would additionally need to have been registered in the relevant community’s population register for at least six months before election day, while meeting the same physical presence requirement.

The draft exempts certain periods spent abroad from counting as absences, including official assignments of Armenian public servants, diplomatic and consular personnel, accompanying family members, and students enrolled at higher education institutions abroad.

The package also contains further amendments on the compilation and management of voter lists. The proposal must pass the remaining stages of the legislative process before any changes take effect.