The voting process is mostly calm by 10:00. Majority of the electoral precincts observed by GYLA were ready on time for the first voter. Majority of those precincts were properly equipped with electoral inventory. A few violations of electoral legislation were revealed by now, which mostly relate to the casting of lots (division of functions between electoral commission members by random selection).
A voter took the ballot from the precinct #78 of Samgori district, which is a violation. One of the electoral commission members commented: “it is alright, we can include it in the ballot shortage list.” According to the Article 63 (clause 16) of the Election Code of Georgia: “electoral ballot is the property of the state. On the election day it is prohibited to arbitrarily take the ballot from the polling station or to destroy it.” GYLA’s observer has lodged a complaint upon this fact.
According to the information received through the hotline, the campaigning was held at the precinct #8 of the Borjomi district, which is the violation. The local observers Ivane Zedginidze and Saba Ghonghadze (from the organization “Initiative for Civil Society/ინიციატივა სამოქალაქო საზოგადოებისთვის”) have appeared at the polling station with the symbolic, supporting Salome Zurabishvili. The election comission chairperson has requested them both to leave the polling station. Observers stated that the jackets with the symbolic were given to them in the “Georgian Dream” office. According to the Article 45 (clause 11), electoral campaigning is prohibited at the polling station on the election day.
Violation of the Casting of Lots Procedure
In a number of cases, the precinct election commission members, appointed from the quota of the “United National Movement” and “European Georgia” have refused to participate in the casting of lots for the function of following the mobile ballot box (at the precincts #71 of Vake district, #15 and #96 of Gldani district, #9 and #32 of Krtsanisi district and #92 of Samgori district).
“United National Movement”-appointed members of the precinct election commission have also refused to participate in the casting of lots for revealing the follower of the mobile ballot box in precincts #16 of Nadzaladevi district, #54 of Didube district, #26 of Gldani district). The commission member of the same party has refused to perform this function after the casting of lots at the precinct #2 of Lanchkhuti district. The commission member from the “European Georgia” has also rejected the casting of lots at the precinct #40 of the Gldani district.
Following the casting of lots, the commission members have arbitrarily exchanged the functions at the precinct #18 of the Didube district. Following the request from GYLA observer, the violation was resolved – the commission chairperson has conducted the casting of lots repeatedly, to assign the functions among the commission members.
At the precinct #9 of the Krtsanisi district, the commission member appointed by the “Patriots’ Alliance” has attempted to exchange the function of the mobile box follower (assigned through casting of lots) with another commission member. Following the remark by GYLA observer, the commission member has performed their function and followed the mobile ballot box.
At the precinct #92 of Samgori district, the commission chairperson has allowed the commission members to participate in the repeated casting of lots, after they refused to follow the mobile box (function revealed through first casting of lots), which is the violation.
According to the Election Code of Georgia (Article 61, Clause-2, Sub-clauses d and d1), the precinct election commission chairperson has to reveal 2 followers of the mobile ballot box among the commission members (through casting of lots). If the commission member refuses to follow the mobile ballot box despite being assigned through casting of lots, s/he loses the right to participate in the next casting of lots for other functions. The precinct election commission chairperson maxes the decision regarding the assignment of the function to this commission member.
At the precinct #16 of the Baghdati district, the seal and the signatures of commission chairperson and secretary were lacking on the logbook, which is the violation of the Election Code – Article 62 (clause 5).
By now, GYLA observers have lodged 10 complaints and 2 remarks in the logbook regarding the mentioned violations.
GYLA Observation Mission on the Election Day
GYLA’s 2018 Observation Mission for Presidential Elections covers Tbilisi and 9 regions of Georgia: Imereti, Guria, Adjara, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Shida Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kakheti and Tbilisi (through 400 observers).
Static observers are present at the 250 polling stations throughout Georgia. We observe the problematic precincts and adjacent territory across 33 districts through 50 mobile groups and 59 district observers.
Considering the nature of the observation mission, we pay special attention to the following issues:
- The problematic precincts, where problems were revealed by GYLA observers during the previous elections and the pre-election period;
- The dense settlements of ethnic minorities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Occupied Territories of Georgia);
- The developments surrounding the polling stations and the activities of the law-enforcements (the implementation of the decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs (MIA));
- Inclusiveness of the electoral environment, among others for persons with a disability and ethnic minorities. We also prioritize the research of women’s electoral-political engagement.
On the election day, GYLA operates a special hotline: 032 2 18 26 30, where any citizen can receive consultations on the electoral procedures. GYLA will also consult journalists and media organizations, regarding the electoral procedures, electoral violations and the methods to respond to them. They will have a possibility to inform us of the revealed violations.
On the election day, GYLA’s electoral analytical database will collect the and analyze the information in real time, through the observers and analysts, sent to various regions of Georgia.
GYLA will hold 3 more press-conferences on the election day, in the NGO Media Center (address: Shalva Dadiani #2/1). Press-conferences will be held on October 28 at: 14:00, 18:00 and 21:00. On October 29, GYLA will evaluate the election day through the 12:00 press-conference.
GYLA’s Observation Mission for the 2018 Presidential Elections is made possible through the funding, provided by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the British Embassy in Tbilisi and the Norwegian Embassy in Baku.
