Ruling team proposes electronic voting starting in 2024 elections

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the ruling team had made a decision on a widespread introduction of an electronic voter registration and voting system starting with the 2024 Parliamentary elections in the country.

Kobakhidze noted the Government was “actively working” on the implementation of the 12-point conditions outlined by the European Union, which, among other things, involves revision of the Georgian Election Code.

The political team of Georgian Dream has discussed this and made a decision on a widespread introduction of an electronic voter registration and voting system from 2024. [...] The successful experience of voter registration and voting with modern technologies allows us to implement this initiative on a large scale from 2024”, the GD official said.

Kobakhidze also said in the majority of polling stations - including in all cities and large settlements that “cover at least 70 percent of voters” - voter registration and voting would be carried out using electronic equipment.

“Electronic voting will ultimately strengthen public confidence in the vote-counting process, ensure that more than 70 percent of votes are counted and results published within minutes after the closing of the voting process, and eliminate problems related to rigging exit polls and parallel vote tabulation”, he continued.  

Our initiative will be introduced as a draft bill in the next few days, after which, based on consultations with the Georgian Government, the Central Election Commission and experts in the field, practical steps will be taken to equip the polling stations with voting equipment”, Kobakhidze concluded.