2017 Local Self-Government

Voting Process and Closing of Polling Stations

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) is monitoring the October 21, 2017 local self-government elections in all electoral districts across Georgia. ISFED Observation Mission consists of 1050 observers deployed at precinct, 73 observers at district electoral commissions and 80 mobile groups. Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) Data Analysis and Incident Centers are working in the central office staffed with 18 operators and 13 lawyers. ISFED’s observation of the local self-government elections is based on the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology, which enables us to timely detect violations, systematically evaluate the entire Election Day process and verify the accuracy of the official election results. 

For the October 21, 2017 local self-government elections ISFED has deployed PVT observers to: 

• A nationally representative, random sample of 300 polling stations throughout Georgia to assess the quality of the election day process;  
• A representative, random sample of 350 polling stations in Tbilisi to evaluate the quality of the process and to verify results for the Mayoral and City Council races;  
• All polling stations in self-governing cities of Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti and municipalities of Akhaltsikhe and Marneuli to evaluate the quality of the process and to verify results for the Mayoral and City Council races.
In this statement, ISFED presents its assessment of the voting process and closing of polling stations based on the information provided by 99.7% of PVT observers. 

Key Findings 

Based on the analysis of the information received through PVT, ISFED concludes that the voting process was conducted without significant violations in the majority of polling stations across Georgia. However, throughout the voting process Marneuli electoral district remained as the most problematic one. ISFED observers detected widespread cases of significant violations in ten polling stations of Marneuli district. Violations tended to be repetitive at the polling stations #31, #18 and #50. ISFED observation detected irregularities at ten polling stations in Rustavi as well. 

During the Election Day, a noticeable trend was collection of voters’ personal information from the table voters list by representatives of political subjects. Such practice was identified at 16.8% of the polling stations throughout the country. Similar incidents were revealed in only isolated cases in those self-governing cities and municipalities where ISFED observers were deployed at all polling stations. However, this trend was most visible in Tbilisi and was identified by ISFED observers at the 74.8% of the polling stations throughout the capital.  

ISFED observers have identified following violations throughout the opening and voting process: restricting the right of observer at 7 polling stations; violation of inking procedure at 15 polling stations; violation of the secrecy of the vote at 3 polling stations; voting with improper documentation at 3 polling stations, participation in voting process by unauthorized individuals at 3 polling stations, casting of vote instead of other individual at 1 polling station; different cases of procedural violations during opening of polling stations and voting process were detected at more than 50 polling stations.  

 


At this time, ISFED observers have filed 76 complaints with Precinct Electoral Commissions (PECs) and 88 complaints with District Electoral Commissions (DECs). ISFED observers have made 57 entries in the record books. 

Detailed Information from the PVT 

• At 97.4% of polling stations in Georgia, voters cast their ballots using proper voter identification. This figure is almost identical to the figure from the 2014 local self-government elections (97.7%) and the 2016 parliamentary elections (98%). In contrast to the nationwide data, highest figure of voters casting votes without proper identification document was identified in Marneuli election district.  
• Inking was always properly checked at 97.3% of polling stations, which is does not differ from the 2016 parliamentary elections, when inking was checked at 97% of polling stations and the 2014 local self-government elections (97.3%). In this case as well, when comparing to the national figure, most often the inking was not checked in Marneuli district.  
• At 99.3% of polling stations, the ballot papers were properly validated with a signature and seal. This figure is not statistically different from 2016 parliamentary elections (98%) and 2014 self-government elections (99.7%).  
• At 99.7% of polling stations, voters were always properly inked. This figure does not significantly differ from 2016 parliamentary elections when voters were properly inked at 98.7% of polling stations and is improved compared to the 2014 local self-Government elections, when voters were properly inked at 96% of polling stations. When comparing to the national figure voters were less often properly inked in Marneuli election district.
• The secrecy of vote was always ensured at 98% of the polling stations. This figure is slightly improved compared to 2016 parliamentary elections (95%) and 2014 local self-Government elections (96.3%). When comparing to the national figure, the secrecy of the vote breached most often in Marneuli and Batumi districts.  
• Acts of harassment and intimidation were reported only in 1% of polling stations, which is not statistically different from the 2014 local self-Government elections (1.3%) and 2016 parliamentary elections (1%).  
• Other cases of violations during voting process were identified at 5.4% of the polling stations.  

Violations 

After 17:00 ISFED’s observers reported following violations: 
Restriction of observers’ rights 
• At the polling station #65 of the election district #20 (Rustavi), observer was not allowed to register a complaint; 
• At the polling station #50 of the election district #22 (Marneuli), observer was not allowed to freely move around the station.  

Unlawful termination of voting process 

• At the polling station #31 of the election district #22 (Marneuli), members of commission unlawfully terminated voting process and vacated the station. ISFED observers requested annulment of polling results.  

Improper check of inking 

• At the polling station #15 of the election district #22 (Marneuli), a voter was not checked for inking.  

Participation of inked voters in voting process 

• At the polling station #29 of the election district #79 (Batumi), two voters who were already inked were allowed to cast a vote.  

Marking of ballot papers 

• At the polling station #29 of the election district #79 (Batumi), ballot papers were marked by the registrar with a pen.  

Casting of vote by unauthorized individuals

• At the polling station #10 of the election district #68 (Tsalenjikha), two voters were allowed to cast a vote using mobile ballot box and at the precinct as well.   
Improper placement of ballot papers in the ballot box 

• At the polling station #65 of the election district #20 (Rustavi), voter placed only one ballot paper in the envelope.  

Number of issued ballot papers exceeding number of signatures in the voters list 

• At the polling stations #14 and #34 of the election district #20 (Rustavi), at the polling station #10 of the election district #37 (Akhaltsikhe) and at the polling station #10 of the election district #36 (Borjomi), number of issued ballot papers by the registrar was exceeding the number of signatures in the voters list.   

Arbitrary swap of functions between members of commission  

• At the polling station #60 of the election district #9 (Nadzaladevi), functions were swapped arbitrarily between members of commission, without indicating it in the record book.  

Inadequate handling of electoral documentation 

• At the polling station #13 of the election district #70 (Poti), the registrar did not manage to ensure that the voter put their signature in the right spot on the voters list.  
• At the polling station #41 of the election district #58 (Tskaltubo) the registrar did not manage to ensure that the voter put their signature in the right spot on the voters list.  
• At the polling station #25 of the election district #60 (Ozurgeti), members of commission who were accompanying the mobile ballot box returned with one less majoritarian ballot paper.   
• At the polling station #24 of the election district #81 (Khelvachauri), information regarding voters using mobile ballot box was not indicated in the voters list.  
• At the polling station #1 of the election district #33 (Kareli), registrar issued two ballot papers of the same kind.   
• At the polling station #2 of the election district #20 (Rustavi), the registrar did not manage to make sure that voter signed on the voters list.  
• At the polling station #43 of the election district #60, members of commission accompanying the mobile ballot box did not return damaged ballot paper at the station.

Presence of unauthorized individuals at the polling station

At the polling station #8 of the election district #1 (Mtatsminda), two representatives of “Left-Wing Alliance” were presented at the station.

 

ISFED allows you to follow the election process online, by going to the elections web-portal – www.electionsportal.ge, where election violations are posted on the elections map. In addition, anyone can report violation of the electoral process by sending a text to a toll-free number 90039.

ISFED will issue next statement tomorrow, 22 October

ISFED Observation Mission is made possible with the generous support from the American people, by financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Election Day mission is also supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The views expressed in this statement belong solely to the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy and may not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government, the Federal Republic of Germany, or NED.