NDI poll puts turnout at 88% of eligible voters in upcoming parliamentary elections
The majority of voters (56 percent) feel the parliamentary elections will be held in a free and fair environment. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
A National Democratic Institute survey predicts 88 per cent of eligible voters will vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 31, noting 59 per cent have not decided yet who they will vote for.
When deciding what candidate to vote for, the survey says the population will first take into account the party's economic policy (36 percent), health policy (12 percent) and rule of law policy (12 percent).
The importance of economic policy in voters’ decisions is consistent with what respondents said are the most significant problems in the country: employment (49 percent), poverty (39 percent) and inflation (20 percent).
The study says that 39 per cent of respondents believe the country is developing in the right direction, while 32 per cent think that development is going in the wrong direction. However, 20 per cent of the people surveyed think that the situation in Georgia is not changing at all, while 8 per cent said they do not know. 1 per cent refuse to answer the question.
The main problems in Tbilisi are traffic jams (13 per cent) and environmental pollution (13 per cent), while in other cities and villages, the water supply (22 per cent) and roads are named (31 per cent)," says the NDI.
The majority of voters (56 percent) feel the parliamentary elections will be held in a free and fair environment.
The survey was conducted on August 6-1, and involved 2,045 people.
Interviews were carried out by telephone. The average margin of error of the poll is +/- 1.3 percent, says the NDI.
A bill has been registered in parliament per the agreement of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the opposition on March 8.
A total of 66 political parties have registered to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia on October 31. The Central Election Commission also stated that now the registered parties must provide their party lists and majoritarian candidates no later than October 1.
The Georgian Dream ruling party is likely to receive 39 per cent of votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections in October, says the recently published US Edison Research’s polls, commissioned by Georgian channel Formula TV.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has released a statement earlier today, saying that Georgia’s ‘radical opposition’ chooses ‘anti-western’ statements and campaigns, while the choice of the Georgian people is 'to further consolidate Georgian democracy and to ensure the full realisation of Georgia's Western aspirations'.
Twenty-seven per cent of Georgian respondents of the Public Attitudes in Georgia survey conducted by the National Democratic Institute say that the biggest issue facing the education system in Georgia today are difficulties associated with online classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Lithuanian MEP Andrius Kubilius told Georgian Imedi TV channel that 'Georgia is making really strong progress in European integration, along with its democratic development'.
A Consulate General of Georgia has opened in San Francisco that will provide consular services to Georgian citizens starting October 1, 2020.
MEPs shared their impressions on Georgia’s reform of its electoral system and on progress made under the Association Agreement earlier today during a debate in the European Parliament.
Who has partnered with the United National Movement?
Opposition parties in Georgia have created two electoral blocs today.
The poll, which was conducted throughout the country (except for the two Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali) between August 25 and September 7, says that 23 per cent of the 2,850 people surveyed has not decided yet who they will vote for if elections were held today.
Central Election Commission (CEC) head Tamar Zhvania spoke to Rustavi 2 about how the vote in the parliamentary elections on October 31 will take place given the coronavirus.
The ruling Georgian Dream party candidates in six majoritarian constituencies would receive above 50% of votes if elections were held today, Rustavi 2 commissioned poll says. 1,800 interviews were conducted in the constituencies of Vake, Gldani, Rustavi, Poti-Khobi-Senaki, Mtskheta-Dusheti-Kazbegi-Tianeti, and Sachkhere-Tchiatura-Kharagauli between September 12-15.
The ruling Georgian Dream party candidates in six majoritarian constituencies including Tbilisi are leading in Rustavi 2 commissioned polls. The poll carried out by British company Survation between September 12 and September 19 says that the ruling party would receive above 50% of votes if elections were held today.
The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) has presented its second interim report of October 31 parliamentary elections, counting 11 cases of threats and violent actions in September.
The recent election polls commissioned by Rustavi 2 TV channel which was conducted by British company Survation say that the ruling Georgian Dream party is expected to receive almost 56 per cent of votes, while polls commissioned by the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi says the party will receive 26,2 per cent of votes in the October 31 parliamentary elections.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has stated that the government has no plans to declare a state of emergency or implement any other systemic restrictions amid the serious growth of coronavirus cases in Georgia. He said that the recent surge in the new infections was ‘absolutely expected’ and the government has taken ‘all measures’ to get prepared for a second wave of coronavirus.