Municipal run-offs: CEC reports 7.38 per cent voter turnout by 10 a.m.
The voter turnout stood at 7.41 per cent as of 10 a.m. during the first round of the municipal elections in Georgia on October 2. Photo: Nino Alavide/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
A total of 154,163 voters (7.38 per cent of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian municipal run-offs as of 10 a.m. today.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission says that the most active constituency is currently Racha-Lechkhumi where 9.2 per cent of registered voters have cast their vote.
The least active is the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region where 5.1 per cent of registered voters have cast their vote so far.
Voter turnout in Tbilisi
Meanwhile, the voter turnout stands at 7.4 per cent in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi where a total of 74,527 voters have cast their ballots.
The most active constituency is currently Gldani where 7.8 per cent of registered voters have cast their vote. The least active is Isani where 6.8 per cent of registered voters have cast their vote so far.
Georgia is holding municipal run-offs today where a total of 2,088,722 voters, including 1,002,525 in Tbilisi are eligible to elect 20 mayors and 42 majoritarian members of the City Councils (Sakrebulos).
The ruling Georgian Dream party candidate Kakha Kaladze and the opposition United National Movement candidate Nika Melia are competing for the mayor’s position in Tbilisi.
Ruling Georgian Dream party chair Irakli Kobakhide, who has cast his ballot in today’s municipal run-offs, said the choice is ‘very simple’ between the two political forces – the Georgian Dream and the opposition United National Movement.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has cast his ballot in today’s municipal run-offs saying he voted for the ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze.
Georgian is holding municipal run-offs in 20 of 64 election constituencies, including all five big cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti. A total of 2,088,722 registered voters can elect mayors and city council (Sakrebulo) members at 1,830 polling stations countrywide.
The second round of municipal elections will take place in Georgia tomorrow, including in all big cities of the country, amid a polarized political environment and continued rivalry between the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the main opposition, the United National Movement. The GD claims they will ‘finally defeat and end the UNM’ in the race, describing it ‘as an evil force’ which has been hampering development for 18 years, while the UNM still hopes the run-offs will lead to snap parliamentary elections ‘and the changing of the GD government.’
A total of 358,782 voters (17.18 per cent of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian municipal run-offs as of 12 p.m. today. Meanwhile, the voter turnout stands at 16.5 per cent in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi where a total of 164,929 voters have cast their ballots.
United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan and Head of European Union Delegation Carl Hartzell encourage the public to come out and make their voices heard in today’s municipal run-offs in Georgia.