The CEC Chairperson and Public Defender discussed various priority topics for the upcoming municipal elections. Safety of October 2 elections, defining the video monitoring rule of vote counting, participation of persons with disabilities in elections, importance of filing complaints online were discussed at today’s meeting. Giorgi Sioridze, Deputy CEC Chairperson and Lela Tsiklauri, representative of Ombudsman were actively involved in the discussion as well.

Giorgi Kalandarishvili detailed meeting participants about the E-day epidemiological protocol adopted by the CEC to ensure safe conduct of elections amid pandemic. Issue on participation of the voters being in inpatient treatment facilities and isolation were also discussed at the meeting. It should be noted that the CEC in cooperation with local observer organizations and political parties updated the mentioned legal acts.

“We talked about conducting elections amid pandemic and the preparation process in this regard. We actively coordinate with the Ministry of Health of Georgia and receive relevant recommendations that support us in administering processes properly. It is important to note that the Election Administration ensures rapid diagnostic test for employees, vaccination is also encouraged that covers all levels of election commissions”, - noted Giorgi Kalandarishvili.

Important legislative amendments implemented within the frames of the election reform were also discussed at the meeting. Giorgi Sioridze, Deputy CEC Chairperson emphasized the importance of the rule of video monitoring on the vote-counting process, which is an important novelty.

“I have been informed on various issues that refer to the septs forward the transparency and publicity. We also talked about the shortcomings observed by the Public Defender during the last parliamentary elections and the ways to solve the challenges. I do think, that the information campaign is very important, especially amid the pandemic. My recommendation is related to the above mentioned that the Election Administration shall inform the voters through its information campaign how they will be able to participate in elections”, - noted Nino Lomjaria after the meeting.