Georgian leaders cast their ballots, encourage citizens to vote
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Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has cast his ballot in today's municipal elections saying he voted for "a better Tbilisi”.
PM arrived at Saburtalo #24 polling station in central Tbilisi about 9:00am with his family.
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and his son at polling station. Photo by PM's press office.
I voted for Tbilisi where everyone enjoys to live; which has perfect urban transport; green areas that let our citizens breath fresh air; high-quality education system; where entrepreneurs enjoy doing business and people live happily”, Kvirikashvili said.
President Giorgi Margvelashvili has also cast his ballot.
At 9:00am Margvelashvili visited #6 polling station in Mtatsminda district, central Tbilisi, to vote.
President Giorgi Margvelashvili said he voted for different subjects at the three ballot papers. Photo by President's press office
After he cast his ballot the President encouraged the citizens to go to polling stations and vote for more engaged local government that listens to its citizens.
The local elections should define the fate of our daily problems and needs… The majoritarians and mayors should serve to the society; listen to people’s needs”, Margvelashvili said.
Today Georgians will vote 2,058 members of 64 city councils (sakrebulo) and 64 municipal mayors.
Twenty-two political parties, five election blocs and one initiative group have registered their party lists for tomorrow’s elections.
To win the mayoral elections, candidates must clear a 50 percent threshold. If this is not reached, a second round of voting will be held.
Today is election day in Georgia, when the country will vote for 2,058 members of 64 city councils (sakrebulo) and 64 municipal mayors. The polling stations opened at 8 am this morning for about 3.44 million eligible voters.
Tomorrow is election day in Georgia, when the country will vote for 2,058 members of 64 city councils (sakrebulo) and 64 municipal mayors. Twenty-two political parties, five election blocs and one initiative group have registered their party lists for tomorrow’s elections.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says that this Saturday’s municipal election in Georgia will become yet another proof that, thanks to the democratic reforms undertaken in Georgia, holding a free and fair election has become a standard.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission has announced that ballot papers for the October 21 municipal elections are being printed.
Four hours since the polling stations opened for voters this morning and some of Tbilisi mayoral candidates have already cast their ballots in today's Municipal Elections. Georgian Dream candidate Kakha Kaladze arrived at the polling station at about 10 am.
In Georgia 567,699 voters throughout the country cast their vote in the Municipal Elections by 12pm this afternoon.
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Mghebrishvili said everything will be done to avoid any conflict and violation on the Election Day. Casting his ballot in today's municipal elections, Minister Mghebrishvili said his team will do everything to protect every vote according to the high western standards.
We have managed to implement the highest election standards in our country, says Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze. Today Georgia is voting for 2,058 members of 64 city councils and 64 municipal mayors.
In Georgia 1,262,809 voters throughout the country cast their vote in the Municipal Elections by 5pm this afternoon. Voter turnout was 36.71 percent at 5pm - nine hours after polling stations opened across the country, said the Central Election Commission (CEC) in its latest media update.
The first exit poll results have been revealed for the 2017 municipal elections in Georgia, with the figures presenting the maiden picture of the polling results for the Tbilisi city mayor election race and results for the participating parties.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikahsvili congratulated all of Georgia "with the completion of peaceful and free elections”. Commenting on the first exit poll results for the 2017 municipal elections in Georgia, Kvirikashvili said "this is another extremely important step towards democracy”.
Zaal Udumashvili from the United National Movement opposition, Elene Khoshtaria from the European Georgia opposition and an independent candidate for Tbilisi mayor’s post Aleko Elisashvili have made their comments after the first exit poll released.
The latest exit poll conducted by GORBI, commissioned by Imedi TV, reports the Georgian Dream ruling party received 54percent of votes.
Georgia’s Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili and several leading NGOs have already released their assessments of the Election Day.