Press Releases

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) is monitoring the presidential elections throughout Georgia, in all the electoral districts. ISFED’s observation mission consists of 1,200 accredited and trained observers for the presidential elections of 2013, who have been deployed to precinct, district and central election commissions. There are also 73 mobile teams throughout the country.

ISFED is observing the Election Day with an internationally recognized and statistically reliable Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology, which enables us to detect violation in time, systematically evaluate the Election Day process and verify the results announced by the CEC.ISFED has been observing elections since 1995. Besides, the orgaanization has carried out all the observation missions based on the PVT methodology since 2003.

As of now, ISFED presents information about turnout and observed violations.

Key Findings

By 12:00, the PVT shows that 16.8 percent of voters have participated (with a margin of error of +/-0.6%). Turnout in this election is less than the amount (25.5%) that participated by 12:00 in the 2012 Parliamentary Elections. In Tbilisi, turnout is 15.2%, which is lower than 12:00turnout in the last election (24%). Turnout in the regions (i.e., not Tbilisi) is 17.5%. In the 2012 Parliamentary Elections, the turnout for the regions was 26%

Violations

At this point the biggest issue that ISFED has observed is voting without proper documentation and issues with voter lists in Batumi.

As of now, the organization’s observers have reported:

• 2 facts of limiting the observer’s rights at polling stations # 2 Batumi and # 42 Marneuli (the right to make note in the polling station logbook);

• 2 cases of presence of unauthorized people at polling stations # 21 Akhaltsikhe and #10 Gurjaani;

• 9 cases of voting with an improper documentation at polling stations #21 #5 Batumi, #11 Mestia, #2 Tianeti, # 22 Dusheti, # 28 Sighnaghi, # 129 Kutaisi, # 10 Martvili and # 4 Marneuli

• 4 facts of inaccuracies related to the voters list at polling stations #7,#8, # 52 and #72 in Batumi polling stations;

• 4 facts of improper processing/filling of the electoral documentation at polling stations #11 Kaspi, #25 Tskaltubo, #76 Saburtalo, and #6 Batumi;

• 1 case of violating the secrecy of votes at polling stations #42 Marneuli;

• 4 people were not checked for inking in polling station #50 Marneuli;

• Inking was not performed in 1 polling station: #64, Vake;

• In Sagarejo 3 control papers were put in 1 ballot box.

ISFED is particularly concerned about the polling stations in Batumi, where there were issues with the voter lists. At this point up to 250 people were not permitted to vote. Some voters appear to have been removed from voter lists. Based on their statements, they were on the initial voter lists but their names were not on the lists during Election Day. ISFED is following up on these issues.

It should be mentioned that there were cases where voters cast their vote without proper documentation. For example, there are reports that people voted with outdated IDs, copy of IDs, improper ID (i.e., drivers’ license) or without any ID.

As of now, ISFED observers have filed 5 complaints to the precinct election commissions, and 22 complaints to the district election commission.

Together with the partner NGOs, ISFED reports election violations to, and maps their location on, their web-portal - www.electionsportal.ge. Any citizen can send information about electoral violations by sending a free SMS to the number 90039.

ISFED reminds the voters that they should have with them one of the three documents listed below in order to participate in voting:

 Personal Identification Card of a Georgian citizen;

 Passport of a citizen of Georgia;

 IDP certificate (together with an ID Card).

ISFED calls upon alleligible voters in Georgia to participate in the elections and to freely exercise their right to vote.

ISFED will make the next announcement at 19:00.

^{ISFED’s’s observation mission is carried out with the support of the US people, and with funding of the USAID, NDI and EU. The opinions expressed above belong to ISFED only and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the EU, NDI, USAID or the Government of the United States of America.}