Municipal Elections 2017: Tbilisi mayoral candidates cast their ballots
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It has been four hours since the polling stations opened for voters this morning and some of Tbilisi's 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.
Casting his ballot, Kaladze told journalists that he voted for a cleaner city, better-organised transport system and urban and ecological development.
"We must feel that the city is alive. The city must be full of love, history, culture and I believe that we will achieve this”, he said.
The mayoral candidate assessed the voting process as calm so far.
Kakha Kaladze casting his ballot in the Municipal Elections. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Another candidate, Elene Khoshtaria of European Georgia, has already made her choice at today’s vote.
"I have voted for returning the belief that we can make our city more comfortable, fair and human-oriented and I also voted for the vision that I believe will bring all of these”, she said.
She added she is motivated to become mayor and get to work.
United National Movement candidate Zaal Udumashvili, who cast his vote in Tbilisi’s Didube district, said that the weather is good in the city today and encouraged everyone to go to the elections.
"I have voted for a successful Tbilisi, for the future of our children and a human-oriented city”, he said.
Aleksandre Elisashvili arrived at the polling station with his family and cast his ballot in the Municipal Elections.
Independent candidate Aleksandre Elisashvili arrived at the polling station together with his family.
"This city needs a change like fresh air. My family and I voted for change", he said.
Elisashvili said he is confident that this evening he will learn that he has won.
Today Georgians are voting 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 the 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.
All the polling stations countrywide will close at exactly 8 pm and the process of counting votes will begin immediately.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has cast his ballot in today's Municipal Elections and voted for "a better Tbilisi”. PM arrived at Saburtalo #24 polling station in central Tbilisi about 9:00am with his family.
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.
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.
Voter turnout was 29.84 percent at 3pm - seven hours after polling stations opened across the country, said the Central Election Commission (CEC) in its latest media update. In Georgia 1,026,430 voters throughout the country cast their vote in the Municipal Elections by 3pm this afternoon.
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”.
Georgia is getting ready for the election runoff that will take place in six municipalities tomorrow, November 12. The election runoff will take place in - Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, and Martvili in western Georgia, and Kazbegi, Khashuri, and Borjomi in eastern Georgia. These are the districts where no candidate cleared the 50 percent threshold during the first vote on October 21.