Election body reports 219 formal complaints, "mostly procedural", from election runoff voting
The CEC provided data on complaints on violations observed or claimed as part of its updates following the closure of polling stations on Saturday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
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The Central Election Commission has reported 219 formal complaints from the election runoff voting by 11pm on Saturday, most of them "procedural" violations.
In an update late in the night after the runoff vote, the CEC said it had received 133 complaints from representatives of election participants, with 86 submitted by observers.
Earlier in the day, the interior ministry reported on cases of alleged breaking of law in physical confrontations and clashes at and outside polling stations, revealing eight cases were being investigated, with one individual arrested.
The election body was busy tallying results from 20 election constituencies, including the five large cities of Georgia, during the night after the polling stations closed at 8pm local time.
The mayoral run-offs in 17 of 20 constituencies were held between the candidates of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the United National Movement, while in three other constituencies, GD candidates opposed representatives of the parties For Georgia, For United Georgia, and an independent candidate.
Georgia's Central Election Commission has reported a 49.09 percent turnout for the municipal election runoff in the country on Saturday, as the body is expected to release its preliminary results for the voting during the night between Saturday and Sunday.
Agenda.ge team has put together an interactive map showing results of the 2021 municipal elections in real time, as the Central Election Commission is preparing to announce its preliminary data on the votes late during the night between Saturday and Sunday.
Eight cases of alleged violations and breaking of law are under investigation by the interior ministry, with one individual arrested, as clashes at or outside polling stations across Georgia have been reported on municipal runoff day.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) says that 97 complaints have been presented on voting procedures by 40 observers and 57 representatives of political parties in today’s municipal election run-offs.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) has assessed the October 30 municipal election run-offs as a ‘missed opportunity’ for Georgian democracy. The organisation monitored the second round of elections in all 20 constituencies where the run-offs were held, with 542 observers at polling stations and 100 outdoor observers.
The official results of the Central Election Commission (CEC) for the 2021 municipal election run-offs in Georgia show that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party mayoral candidates have won in 19 municipalities, while the opposition United National Movement (UNM) contender has won in just one. Incumbent Tbilisi mayor and candidate Kakha Kaladze from the GD took 55.6% of the votes over the UNM’s Nika Melia, with 100% of the votes counted.
Transparency International (TI) Georgia, which monitored the October 30 municipal run-offs, says that the public may have ‘legitimate questions’ regarding the ‘overall fairness of the elections.’ TI Georgia claims that violations, including physical confrontations, interference in the work of observers and journalists, and the admittance of voters to polling stations without checking electoral ink stamps, might have had a ‘serious impact’ on election results.
OSCE/ODIHR and European Parliament (EP) observation missions have assessed Georgian municipal election run-offs held yesterday, stating that the race ‘was generally competitive and organized professionally’, but increasing polarization and negative rhetoric, as well as allegations of voter intimidation and the ‘continuing advantage of incumbency, demonstrated the need for further reforms.
An election commission member of the Kutaisi No. 90 polling station, Iza Chirgadze, who claimed that she was forced by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party to give ballot papers to unregistered voters on election day - October 30 - denies pressure was put on her, noting that she was not in any danger, after having been missing for the last two days.
Police are investigating a case of coercion involving election commission member of the Kutaisi No. 90 polling station, Iza Chirgadze, who claimed several days ago that she was forced by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party to give ballot papers to unregistered voters on election day on October 30, local media outlet On.ge reports.