The Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, held the summary briefing on October 26 elections.

“Parliamentary Elections of Georgia, Samtredia and Chokhatauri Sakrebulo By-elections, and Supreme Council Elections of Autonomous Republic of Adjara will be held on October 26, 2024.

Election Administration (EA) of Georgia is ready to transparently administer the first extensively modernized elections by fully observing the legislation with the highest level of professionalism. Nearly 90% of voters will receive the service via electronic means, while the ballot paper of 10% of voters will be digitized following conclusion of the polling process.

Modernization of elections – introduction of electronic technologies is the most crucial phase in the history of Georgia. We would like to highlight with pride that the EA has spared no effort to successfully complete the phase for nearly 2 years in the intensive regime. Unprecedented number of initiatives have been implemented in various directions, including different organizational activities, multiphase trainings on electoral innovations and use of electronic technologies for election commissions’ members, unprecedented extensive voter information campaign, establishment of modern operational warehouse infrastructure for technologies, conduct of compliance audit on technologies etc.

To promote inclusiveness of the process and constructive cooperation, 4 working - dialogue platforms are created at the institution for local non-governmental and international organizations, media and local experts. As part of the mentioned platforms, meetings were regularly organized. During those meetings, stakeholders were provided with information while elaborating on findings and recommendations, most of which are take into consideration as much as possible.

Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia adopted various legal/normative acts to administer the elections, promoting advancement of electoral environment, including simplification of processes for stakeholders. In sum, CEC adopted 13 decrees, and 228 ordinances, having support from more than 13 CEC Members, from the day of appointing elections until the present.

I would like to express my gratitude towards each election administrator and each stakeholder, including administrative organs, local and international organizations, political parties and media, for their contribution and support given to the EA of Georgia in implementing of the above-mentioned activities and promoting modernization of elections.

More than 1700 observers from 76 international organizations, more than 23 000 observers from 111 local organizations will observe the elections, that will be covered by more than 2800 representatives from 199 media organizations.

CEC of Georgia calls upon the District and Precinct Election Commissions to promote the significantly important process of observing and covering elections with strict observance of the pertinent legal provisions. Additionally, the CEC urges the observer organizations to observe the legislation, not interfere with the functions and activities of the commissions, and promote the conduct of electoral processes in a peaceful and professional environment. EA of Georgia will exercise its functions as per the legislation and instantly apply the legal mechanisms provided by the law in case of interfering or hindering its activities.

Elections are a common cause, and for this reason, we would like urge citizens to be active and take part in elections. Additionally, I would like to address the stakeholders – political parties, local non-governmental and international organizations, media – to take part in this crucial process of democratization of country, observe the elections and promote the conduct of elections in a peaceful and free environment. Your participation is important for ensuring the transparency and integrity of electoral process.

Disinformation and manipulative information campaigns still remain as a challenge, including the efforts to discredit the EA and the Election Day with baseless accusations. For this reason, I would like to address each stakeholder and urge them to respect voters and provide them with verified and objective information. By our side, the EA will take any step to ensure that the public and stakeholder, especially international partners are provided with verified and precise information operatively and proactively.

I would like to make a reminder – voters will elect the 150 Members of the Parliament of Georgia under the proportional electoral system. You will elect the solely one from the 18 political parties that are on the ballot paper. For this, you shall color the inner area of the circle placed in front of the relevant political party. Mandates of the Members of the Parliament will be divided for the political parties which will get at least 5 percent of votes cast by the voters taking part in elections.

In sum, 3 111 electoral precincts will serve voters. 3 044 electoral precincts are opened in Georgia, including the 13 electoral precincts that are established for the exceptional circumstances (12 electoral precincts in the penitentiary institutions, 1 electoral precinct in the mental health center). As for the electoral precincts abroad, 67 electoral precincts are established in the 53 cities of the 42 foreign countries. Electronic elections will be conducted at the 2 263 electoral precincts, while traditional elections will take place at the rest of the electoral precincts, including the precincts that are established abroad.

Each electoral precinct is ready to host the voters. Electoral precincts are scheduled to be opened at 6.45 a.m. The polling process will commence on 8 a.m. The polling in foreign countries will commence on 8 a.m. and last until 8 p.m. in accordance to the local time of the appropriate country. A voter shall have the identity card of a citizen of Georgia or the passport of a citizen of Georgia.

General number of voters for the October 26 Election amounts to 3 508 294, including 3 113 747 voters who will use the electronic technologies for participating in elections. 135 922 young individuals are given opportunity for the first time this year to cast their votes in elections. 64 238 voters are registered in the list of a mobile ballot box, and 95 910 voters are recorded in the special list of voters of the electoral precincts that are established abroad.

18 election subjects are registered for the Parliamentary Elections. 5 candidates are nominated by 3 election subjects for the Samtredia and Chokhatauri Sakrebulo By-elections, while 11 election subjects are registered by the Supreme Election Commission of Autonomous Republic of Adjara for the latter’s Supreme Council Elections.

Tomorrow’s elections will be administered by more than 54 000 election administrators. More than half of them are the representative members that are appointed by authorized political parties, while the rest of them are the members elected on a professional basis with non-party affiliation. I would like to remind you the fact that from the 17 members of the Precinct Election Commission, 8 members are non-party members, while 9 members are appointed by political parties, including the 1 member who represents the ruling party along with the 8 members who are appointed by various political parties.

At the election precincts where the polling will be conducted via verification and vote counting devices, ballot papers will be different. A voter shall color solely one circle/inner area of a circle place in front of the political party instead of circling a number. A vote counting device will automatically count votes and print the report on the preliminary results of polling once the mandatory procedures are observed following conclusion of polling. The results will be transferred to the CEC via a tablet, implying that, certainly, time for announcing the preliminary results is significantly decreased. We will be capable of introducing the preliminary results to the public in approximately 1-2 hours once the polling is concluded. In the meantime, the data will be available for any interested person on the website results.cec.gov.ge.

Furthermore, it should be noted that manual counting of ballot papers will be conducted to ensure transparency and credibility of elections. While counting the ballot papers, commission members will sort the valid and invalid ballot papers, and compare the received results to the data provided by the device. The legislation does not provide any other version of reasoning in regard to the so called ‘questionable’ ballot paper.

At rest of the electoral precincts, the polling will be conducted in compliance with the traditional approach. At such precincts, election ballot papers will be scanned and digitized, uploaded at the relevant safe platform and available to each interested party.

I would like to emphasize that the electronic devices are not connected to internet network, therefore, there is no threat of cyber interventions. Certainly, voting secrecy is ensured. Each electoral precinct has a modified (so called ‘free standing foldable booth’) booths. Therein, I would like to mention that photo or video shooting in the booth is prohibited.

It is important to highlight that the probability of any device’s failure is minimal based on experience of the EA of Georgia and the vendor company. However, similar situations are considered and insured, a document on prevention of risks and management has been already developed. It is decisive that the polling will not be interrupted in any circumstance.

Polling will be closed on 8 p.m. However, voters standing in a queue for this time will be able to cast their votes. One of the commission members will record such voters in accordance with receiving the task from the Chairperson of Precinct Election Commission, allowing the voters to participate in elections.

There is another innovation in regard to a mobile ballot box. During these elections, inking procedure is mandatory for the voters who will cast their votes by using a mobile ballot box.

During the Elections Day, the CEC Contact Hub will be operating via 2 51 00 51. Moreover, the Media Center will be constantly available, allowing media and electoral stakeholders to gain information on the questions of their interest.

We urge stakeholders to fully observe the relevant legislation and promote conduct of elections in a peaceful circumstance. Therein, we would like to make a reminder for the public and stakeholders of the list of breaches that we already faced frequently during several elections.

1. Candidates of Membership of the Parliament of Georgia and Sakrebulo (local council) are not entitled to be present at the buildings where polling takes place, except the time when they cast their votes. In other circumstances, the Members of the Parliament of Georgia, Sakrebulo, and the officials indicated in the legislation shall have the status of election subject’s representative. Otherwise, they will be allowed to be present at the building of polling station for the period of time essential for casting a vote.
2. While observing the verification process, video shooting of a voter’s personal data, writing them out, or processing them in any other way are prohibited. In any such case, the EA of Georgia will instantly apply the measures as provided in the legislation.
3. Removal of the Identity Card, examining the inking or any other interference in the functions of the commission will be instantly eliminated by the EA of Georgia.
4. Helping a voter in the voting booth, observing a voting process in the voting booth, or photo-video shooting;
5. Photo-video shooting is allowed solely from the specially allocated area in the Precinct Election Commission”.