Central Election Commission hosts int’l conference on electoral technology, combating disinformation
Kalandarishvili said the topics discussed at the event were aimed at protecting the integrity of elections and electoral environment from “wrong, harmful influence”. Photo: Central Election Commission of Georgia
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The 11th edition of the International Conference of Election Management Bodies, dedicated to electoral technology and combating disinformation, is being hosted by the Central Election Commission of Georgia in the Black Sea city of Batumi on Wednesday.
Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Commission, said the Conference’s hosting of election administrators from more than 25 countries and over 100 participants, as well as the response it had received, indicated the “relevance and importance” of the subjects covered.
Honored to host the 11th Annual International Conference Of #Election Administrations. The #CEC organized the international conference in cooperation with @IFES1987, @coe and Supreme Election Commission of Autonomous Republic of Adjara. pic.twitter.com/ZxAzEBQ5PK
— Giorgi Kalandarishvili (@GiorgiK_CEC_GE) October 25, 2023
Kalandarishvili said the topics discussed at the event were aimed at protecting the integrity of elections and electoral environment from “wrong, harmful influence”.
He added combating disinformation was a “challenge for many countries” in the 21st century, with the spread of “misinformation and false narratives having no boundaries”.
The CEC Chair said election administrators needed to “work together” to ensure development and creation of mechanisms that provided “correct and objective” information to the public around election issues.
He also mentioned electronic voting technology and voter verification, as well as vote-counting machines used for the purpose, would be used in the country for the first time in the 2024 Parliamentary Elections, calling the development a “progressive step forward”.
The official noted the use of the technology would ensure simplification of voting procedures, as well as security, “high transparency” and publicity of the process, leading to its increased credibility.
Electoral reform in Georgia was discussed in a meeting between Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party and members of the United Nations Electoral Needs Assessment Mission, the Georgian Parliament said on Friday.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Monday said the introduction of electronic voting across the country ahead of the 2024 Parliamentary Elections would “remove all kinds of speculation” by domestic “radical groups” about “rigged elections”.
Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Central Election Commission of Georgia, said the interim parliamentary and mayoral elections across the country on Sunday had “proved” the “readiness” of the election administration, voters and the public for electronic voting.
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.
Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Central Election Commission, on Friday said the Commission had won three awards at the 19th International Electoral Affairs Symposium, as a recognition of the CEC’s activities carried out in a “proper, fair, and transparent environment following international standards”.