By-elections 2019: Polls closed, votes being counted
Votes are counted electronically at eight polling stations of Tkibuli and Tskaltubo in western Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Polling stations closed at 8 p.m. at 410 polling stations in Georgia where voters cast ballots for a member of parliament, five mayors and members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) across the country.
By-elections were held today:
- in the Mtatsminda district of Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi to elect an MP;
- in five municipalities: Marneuli, Zestaponi, Chiatura, Zugdidi and Khulo to elect mayors;
- in eight municipalities: Sagarejo, Akhmeta, Adigeni, Zestaponi, Chiatura, Tkibuli, Tskaltubi and Ozurgeti to elect members of Sakrebulo [city council.]
Votes are counted electronically at eight polling stations of Tkibuli and Tskaltubo in western Georgia.
The final results will be available at www.results.cec.gov.ge. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
- 6,139 observers of 49 local organisations had registered to monitor by-elections;
- 47 observers of 7 international organisations had registered to observe the race;
- 1,917 representatives of 45 media outlets had registered to cover the Election Day.
- 6,556 representatives of election subjects had also registered to monitor the process
Municipal elections were held in Georgia in October 2017, while parliamentary elections were held in October 2016.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), one of the leading NGOs in Georgia, says that its observers have been allowed in and faced no restrictions to monitor the election process at almost all polling stations in today’s by-elections in Tbilisi and the regions.
Five individuals have been detained for administrative offences, while an investigation has been opened for two criminal offences related to today’s by-elections in Tbilisi and in the regions, Deputy Interior Minister Natia Mezvrishvili has reported.
Central Election Commission has reported violations at several election stations. Spokeswoman Ana Mikeladze said observers and members of political party have taken voters’ ID cards and wrote down their data, which is a violation.
Georgia is going to the polls today to elect a member of parliament, five mayors and members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) across the country. Polls opened at 8 a.m. this morning for 402,091 eligible voters at 410 polling stations.
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), one of the leading NGOs in Georgia, reported that the voting procedure on May 19 by-elections was held “without any substantial violations.”
The Central Election Commission (CEC) Spokesperson Ana Mikeladze has recently announced that today’s by-elections were held in a “mainly calm environment” and voters had the opportunity to express their will “freely”.
The ruling Georgian Dream party candidates are leading in the May 19 by-elections in the majority of election precincts. Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze announced the results of some of the election districts late on Sunday.
The Georgian Dream ruling party has stated that they have won an “overwhelming” victory in yesterday’s by-elections, while opposition leaders have made different statements, contradicting one another.
The Central Election Commission has counted all the votes cast in the second round of MP by-elections in the Mtsatsminda district of Tbilisi. According to the preliminary results, the ruling Georgian Dream party candidate Lado Kakhadze has won the race.
Georgian ruling and opposition parties have provided different evaluations of Sunday’s by elections in Tbilisi, in which candidate of the Georgian Dream ruling party (GD) Lado Kakhadze defeated the joint nominee of the European Georgia and the Free Democrats opposition parties Shalva Shavgulidze with almost 62 per cent of votes.