Statements

1. Key findings

According to the information provided by ISFED’s observers, multiple problematic incidents and violations were recorded throughout the country during the voting process. Out of observers conducting their duties in line with the Parallel Vote Tabulation methodology, 9.1% reported incidents. Among them, are a number of cases of the violation of vote secrecy, restrictions on the rights of observers and physical violence against them, as well as mobilization of voters and malfunctioning electronic devices. At polling station #69 of electoral district #22 (Marneuli), mass stuffing of ballots in the ballot box was observed and at polling station #18 of electoral district #44 (Ambrolauri), one of the members of the commission voted twice.

In the vicinity of the polling stations, within a perimeter of up to 100 meters from the polling station, there were cases of the gathering of unauthorized persons, including the mobilization of party coordinators, as well as cases of organized transportation of voters and gathering of information about them, primarily with the participation of individuals affiliated with the ruling “Georgian Dream” party. Verbal confrontations also occurred. 

 

2. Voter turnout based on parallel vote tabulation by 12:00

According to the results of the parallel vote tabulation, voter turnout across the country as of 12:00 was 22.7% (with a margin of error of +/-0.7%). [1]

 

3. Documented violations / incidents at polling stations

As of 14:00, ISFED observers documented the following types of violations:

Restricting the rights of observers

• At polling station #1 of electoral district #30 (Kaspi), campaigning was observed outside the polling station. After an ISFED observer took a photo of the campaigner, the observer was physically attacked;
• At polling station #18 of electoral district #44 (Ambrolauri), a commission member took away the phone of ISFED’s observer who was documenting an incident;
• At polling station #3 of electoral district #5 (Isani), registrars’ tables were too close to the wall, preventing accredited observers from properly monitoring the process.
• At polling station #26 of electoral district #2 (Vake), due to inadequate setup and limited space, observers are unable to monitor the voter verification process. Obstruction of observer duties by election commission members occurred.

Voter list-related violations

At polling station #21 of electoral district #3 (Saburtalo), a voter list printed from the verification device was not displayed as per procedures.

Violations related to ballots

• At polling station #17 of electoral district #5 (Isani), a voter was given more than one ballot;
• At polling station #16 of electoral district #1 (Mtatsminda), a registrar handed two ballots to a voter. After this was noted by the observer, the issue was resolved;
• At polling station #31 of electoral district #1 (Mtatsminda), a registrar handed three ballots to a voter, but the violation was noticed by observers before the votes were cast. The commission cut the corners of all three ballots and sealed them. The voter then refused to participate in the elections.

Violation of the inking procedure

At polling station #23 of electoral district #39 (Aspindza), inking violations were reported.

Violations of vote secrecy

• At polling station #46 of electoral district #59 (Kutaisi), a voter verbally declared their choice and showed the ballot to everyone;
• At polling station #23 of electoral district #55 (Khoni), a person with authorization to be present at the station accompanied a voter that did not need assistance to the polling booth and the ballot was filled in their presence;
• At polling station #32 of electoral district #25 (Tsalka), cases were observed where voters took photos of their ballots inside the booth;
• At polling station #49 of electoral district #23 (Bolnisi), a voter approached another voter to determine their choice. At the same polling station, a voter showed their ballot to the commission member after exiting the polling booth;
• At polling station #9 of electoral district #16 (Kvareli), a “Georgian Dream” representative was observed standing near the voting booth and saw a voter’s choice;
• At polling station #18 of electoral district #44 (Ambrolauri), there were four cases, when two or more voters entered the polling booth together;
• At polling station #18 of electoral district #44 (Ambrolauri), voters were observed taking photos of their ballots;
• At polling station #41 in Thessaloniki (Greece), a commission member accompanied a voter to the polling booth and since the violation was not resolved after it was raised, a complaint was filed with the Precinct Election Commission.

Cases of multiple votes being cast

• At polling station #71 of electoral district #22 (Marneuli), two cases of multiple votes being cast were observed;
• At polling station #18 of electoral district #44 (Ambrolauri), a commission member filled in and cast the ballots of two voters instead of themselves.

Issues related to the use of electoral technologies

• At polling station #16 of electoral district #1 (Mtatsminda) all three vote counting machines malfunctioned;
• At polling station #14 of electoral district #2 (Vake), vote counting and verification devices are intermittently malfunctioning, disrupting the voting process. A note was logged in the record book.

Presence of unauthorized persons at polling stations

At polling station #34 of electoral district #5 (Isani), a police officer was present in the polling station, frequently communicating with the Precinct Election Commission chairperson. The voting process is proceeding chaotically at this station;

At polling station #19 of electoral district #2 (Vake), two representatives from the same electoral subject ("Georgian Dream") were simultaneously present within the station. After this was highlighted by an observer, one of the representatives from the electoral subject left the polling station. This incident was logged in the record book;

At polling station #19 of electoral district #2 (Vake), an unauthorized person in a police uniform with a Ministry of Internal Affairs badge entered the premises. The individual spoke to the commission chairperson and then left the polling station. According to the commission secretary, the unauthorized person was security personnel for the building. This incident was logged in the record book.

 

4. Violations and trends outside polling stations (10:00-12:00)

 Suspicious gatherings of individuals within a 100-meter radius of stations

• At polling station #10 of electoral district #79 (Batumi), unidentified individuals were observed gathering within a 100-meter radius of the station, acting aggressively and campaigning for “Georgian Dream” while insulting opposition parties;
• At polling station #14 of electoral district #52 (Bagdati), a group of suspected ruling party supporters were observed communicating with voters from three vehicles;
• At polling station #25 of electoral district #56 (Chiatura), individuals seated in a car parked outside of the 100-meter radius were observed intermittently communicating with a “Georgian Dream” party representative at the polling station;
• At polling station #5 of electoral district #35 (Khashuri), a suspicious gathering of individuals has been observed. Specifically, 6-7 people are standing very close to the entrance of the polling station, observing voters. According to the perception of ISFED’s external observer, they could be attempting to influence voter behavior;
• At polling station #23 of electoral district #12 (Gurjaani), several coordinators have been observed standing at the entrance of the premises, carrying voter lists with them;
• At polling station #41 of electoral district #7 (Chugureti), a suspicious gathering of individuals has been observed within a 100-meter radius.

Verbal confrontations

At polling station #49 of electoral district #59 (Kutaisi), a verbal confrontation took place in the outer perimeter of the station between a representative of “Unity-National Movement” and the chairperson of the Precinct Election Commission.

Organized (repeated) voter mobilization

• At polling station #39 of electoral district #59 (Kutaisi), a minibus with persons affiliated with the “Georgian Dream” party is stationed at the outer perimeter, with individuals inside presumably collecting voter information;
• Near polling station #37 of electoral district #59 (Kutaisi), organized voter transportation is taking place using a minibus and two cars. Specifically, they are departing periodically and returning with voters to cast their ballots. Additionally, communication is observed between some voters and individuals inside the minibus after voting;
• Near polling station #1 of electoral district #57 (Tkibuli), repeated transportation of voters is being carried out using the same vehicle;
• Near polling station #13 of electoral district #20 (Rustavi), approximately 30 meters from the polling station, organized voter transportation and mobilization of coordinators has been observed. Kindergarten staff are also present in the area, who are communicating with voters exiting the station and assisting with voter mobilization;
• Near polling station #23 of electoral district #12 (Gurjaani), several individuals are repeatedly transporting voters by car;
• Near polling station #6 of electoral district #12 (Gurjaani), an accredited observer from the 'International Observatory of Advocates and Lawyers,' registered as a local monitoring organization, was involved in voter mobilization alongside coordinators from the “Georgian Dream” party.

Tracking of voters

• Near polling station #5 of electoral district #57 (Tkibuli), five individuals inside a parked vehicle are recording voters' names using lists;
• At polling station #10 of electoral district #79 (Batumi), three coordinators are keeping records of voters. They are calling voters on the phone and urging them to come to the polling station;
• At polling station #49 of electoral district #59 (Kutaisi), two coordinators are located in the outer perimeter of the station. They have an electronic list on their mobile phones;
• At polling station #31 of electoral district #56 (Chiatura), party coordinators from “Georgian Dream” are reportedly collecting voter information in a small building adjacent to the station;
• At polling station #6 of electoral district #12 (Gurjaani), an observer noted instances of voter registration by individuals inside a car, located within a 100-meter radius of the station.

Alleged vote-buying

At polling station #23 of electoral district #12 (Gurjaani), ISFED’s external observer noticed 50 GEL being given to one of the voters during the process of voter mobilization by coordinators who were present from 08:30.

 

5. Complaints and Statements

As of 14:00, ISFED’s observers have filed 34 complaints at PECs, 13 complaints at DECs and logged 22 entries in the record book.  

 

6. Information about the observation mission

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) is monitoring the October 26, 2024 parliamentary election in all electoral districts across Georgia (excluding the occupied territories).

ISFED’s election observation mission consists of around 1,000 observers deployed inside of polling stations, 235 observers deployed outside of polling stations and 45 observers at polling stations abroad, as well as 73 observers deployed at District Election Commissions (DECs) and 85 mobile groups. ISFED operates data and incident analysis and processing centers at its headquarters, with 32 operators and 23 lawyers.

ISFED’s observation of the parliamentary election is based on the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology, where PVT observers are deployed to a randomly selected, nationally representative sample of polling stations. The outside observation of the polling stations draws on an identical methodology.

 

ISFED’s next statement will be released at 18:00.

 

 

 

 

ISFED's monitoring mission is made possible by the support of the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of the United Kingdom, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The opinions expressed herein belong solely to ISFED and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EU, USAID, UK, SIDA and NED.

 

[1] This is based on reports from 96% of observers in ISFED’s PVT sample of polling stations in Georgia and does not include overseas polling stations.