Public Defender backs voters’ participation in elections with non-electronic ID cards

Ioseliani said the right to vote was guaranteed by the Constitution. Photo: Public Defender’s press office

Agenda.ge, 16 Nov 2023 - 15:44, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani on Thursday said he backed enabling voters to participate in elections with non-electronic identification cards, in response to claims by domestic opposition groups that said the prospect could allow the Government to “rig” votes. 

The controversy over the topic was sparked after the Parliament on Wednesday approved with its first reading amendments proposed by opposition MP Pridon Injia to allow use of non-electronic ID cards ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.

In his comments, Ioseliani said the right to vote was guaranteed by the Constitution and “this right cannot be limited”, adding voters “should participate with the [identification] documents they have”. He also urged the public to replace non-electronic IDs with modern identification documents.