Inmates, penitentiary staff cast votes in Georgia’s municipal elections

Inmates in penitentiary facilities across Georgia are participating in the October 21 municipal elections by voting for city council members and mayors at polling stations and boxes provided to their locations.

The election process opened at 10 stations located at select facilities, with other detention institutions being supplied with transported polling boxes.

Individuals charged with crimes and convicts serving for less harsh offences are eligible to vote, with penitentiary polling centres also serving employees working 24-hour shifts at the facilities.

An inmate casts his vote at one of the polling stations in his facility. Photo: Ministry of Corrections of Georgia press office.

Both local and international observers are present to monitor the voting, while some of the polling station personnel have reported higher election activity among inmates compared to last year.

The Ministry of Corrections of Georgia quoted an inmate participating in the voting as saying they were pleased they had the opportunity to vote and thus influence "the country's development". They also urged other citizens to cast their vote today.

Georgia is voting for 2,058 members of 64 city councils (sakrebulo) and 64 municipal mayors in today's elections.