Statements

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (hereinafter ISFED) has been monitoring election processes since June 1, 2024, and periodically publishes the results of its pre-election monitoring. In recent weeks, the organization’s long-term observers across the country have frequently received reports that individuals involved in the election campaign, in support of the ruling party, are attempting to pressure voters, including employees of budgetary organizations, through various means. ISFED refers to some alleged instances of violations of the law:

1. Ruling party activists, for various reasons, request some voters to temporarily hand over their identification documents (e.g., in Zugdidi, Borjomi, Khashuri, Lagodekhi, Gurjaani, and Kvareli). Obstructing the expression of will in elections is a crime under the Criminal Code. ISFED urges voters not to hand over their identification documents to anyone in the situations described above;
2. In budget-funded organizations, as well as in some private institutions, managers are instructing employees to compile and hand over lists of probable ruling party supporters (e.g., in Tbilisi, Bolnisi, Lagodekhi, Chokhatauri, Gurjaani, Kareli, Sagarejo, Kvareli, Telavi, and Dedoplistskaro). Assigning such tasks to employees, as well as obtaining, storing, and processing voters' personal data in this form, is illegal. ISFED calls on the managers of budget-funded and private organizations to refrain from issuing such unlawful instructions. In such cases, employees have the right to refuse to carry out illegal tasks that are not directly related to their job functions;
3. Ruling party activists are distributing goods, fuel vouchers, or offering services to voters in exchange for their support (e.g., in Tbilisi, Zugdidi, Akhalkalaki, Kareli, Kaspi, Borjomi, and Khashuri). Under Georgian legislation, voter bribery is a criminal offense, and both the individual offering the bribe and the voter accepting it may be held legally accountable. A voter may be exempt from criminal liability if they voluntarily report the incident to the appropriate authority;
4. Ruling party activists are spreading information via non-public communication channels, claiming that they will be able to determine which party a voter supports through electronic devices used on election day (e.g., in Zugdidi, Adigeni, Kareli, Gori, Borjomi, Khashuri, Lagodekhi, Gurjaani, and Kvareli). According to several statements made by the election administration, the use of voter verification and vote counting machines is secure, and no one will be able to determine which party a voter voted for. The electronic devices used for voter verification and counting are not interconnected, and the ballot paper does not contain any information that could link it to a specific voter. Therefore, the secrecy of the vote is ensured.

ISFED urges voters not to provide their personal data or/and identity documents to anyone. Additionally, citizens are reminded that voting is secret, and it is impossible to verify the choices made by voters, including at polling stations utilizing electronic technologies.

ISFED calls on the relevant agencies to study, investigate, and take appropriate measures concerning the numerous alleged legal violations reported in the recent period.