Armenia’s Central Election Commission has stated that political forces are allowed to conduct campaigning even before the official pre-election period begins.
The Commission responded to a публикация by the newspaper Zhoghovurd, which claimed that although the official campaign for nationwide elections starts on May 8, political processes are already active and beyond the CEC’s control.
The CEC said the claim is unfounded and likely stems from a misunderstanding of Armenian legislation.
According to the Commission, the Electoral Code clearly states that the existence of a designated pre-election campaign period does not restrict campaigning outside that timeframe, as long as it is not prohibited by law.
“We reiterate that before the official campaign period, any political force may engage in campaigning, meet with citizens, travel across Armenian communities, and carry out any actions not prohibited by Armenian legislation,” the statement said.
The Commission also clarified that the official campaign period is defined by the Electoral Code as the timeframe during which specific rules apply to ensure equal opportunities for parties and candidates, including regulations on the use of public resources, campaigning, and financial transparency.
For the parliamentary elections scheduled on June 7, 2026, the official campaign period runs from May 8 to June 5. Campaigning is prohibited on June 6, the day before the vote, and on election day until 20:00.
