Press Release: Second Round of Parliamentary Elections in Georgia

ISFED Observation Mission consists of approximately 700 accredited and trained observers. Over 600 ISFED short-term observers (STOs) are monitoring voting and counting process in a national representative sample of polling stations through Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology. ISFED has observers at all polling stations in four majoritarian districts: #36 Marneuli; #44 Akhaltsikhe-Adigeni; #49 Kutaisi; and #66 Zugdidi. Additionally, 40 mobile groups and 43 DEC observers are deployed as part of the mission. PVT and Incident Centers are working at the Central Office. The opening and setting up process at the polling stations took place without substantial violations, with the exception of 6 cases where the documentation was not properly filled out, 2 cases of restriction of observers' rights, 3 cases where the casting of lots was violated, and 1 case where voting took place without properly inking the voter. ISFED observers have reported a total of 9 complaints with Precinct Electoral Commissions (PECs) and 6 complaints with District Electoral Commissions (DECs). Ten entries were made by ISFED observers in the record book. ISFED observers have identified several types of violations, including restricting the rights of observers, inadequate handling of electoral documentation, procedural violation of casting lots, and voting without proper inking. At the polling station #8 of the majoritarian district #36 (Marneuli), a voter who had already participated in the polling entered the polling station and insulted the UNM representative verbally and physically. At the polling station #9 of the majoritarian district #65 (Zugdidi), a voter who had already gone through the inking procedure was allowed to participate in polling. At the polling station #9 of the majoritarian district #51 (Baghdati), a voter marked the sequence number in the ballot paper on the table of the registrar. By 15:00, voting process is taking place in calm and organized manner, with a few cases of significant violations observed. ISFED observers have identified 1 case of violence, 3 cases of breach of secrecy of the vote, 1 case of a voter voting again, 1 case of restriction of observers' rights, 7 cases of documentation not properly filled out, 1 case of voting with improper documentation, 2 cases of unauthorized persons present at the polling station, 2 cases of failure to properly perform duties of the PEC members, and 1 case of inking procedure violation. Voter turnout by 12:00 is 12.7% with a margin of error of +/-0.4%, a decline from the first round of the parliamentary elections when voter turnout by 12:00 was 19.7% (with a margin of error +/- 0.3%). In 96% of polling stations, the commission processed, on average, one voter per minute, while in 4% of polling stations the commission processed 1-2 voters per minute. ISFED has observers at all polling stations in four majoritarian districts: #36 Marneuli; #44 Akhaltsikhe-Adigeni; #49 Kutaisi; and #66 Zugdidi. The mission is supported by the American people, by financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Georgia, and the European Union (EU).