Today is By-Election Day in Georgia
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About 54,000 people in several of the country’s municipalities are being encouraged to take part in the 2016 by-elections in Georgia today.
The by-elections of Sakrebulo (local council) are being held at local majoritarian election districts in Gldani district of Tbilisi, Gardabani and Kaspi in eastern Georgia as well as Tskaltubo, Ozurgeti, Khobi and Zugdidi in the country’s west.
The Sakrebulo by-elections were needed to fill the vacant seats in local councils of these municipalities.
Voting booths opened at 8am across the country and will remain open until 8pm tonight.
"Each election precinct has already received all necessary inventory and documentation: ballot papers including bilingual ballot papers for Azeri community, summary protocols, and magnifying lens for visually impaired voters,” said spokesperson of the Central Election Commotion (CEC) Ana Mikeladze early this morning.
"The by-elections were appointed due to the early termination of authority of majoritarian members of Sakrebulos, local municipalities,” she added.
Five parties registered their candidates for today’s by-elections:
- â1 – Free Georgia;
- â5 – United National Movement;
- â33 – Irakli Alasania – Free Democrats;
- â24 – Peoples’ Authority;
- â41 – Georgian Dream;
Candidates of two initiative groups are also participating in the elections at Gardabani and Ozurgeti local municipalities.
Almost 300 observers of 19 local non-governmental organisations and six observers from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) are observing the polling process. About 300 media representatives of 18 media organisations are covering the by-elections.
According to Georgian legislation, a candidate who won more votes than the other candidates and gained more than 30 percent votes will be declared the outright winner of the race without requiring a second round runoff.