ISFED Assesses the Complaints Process in District Election Commissions
ISFED filed 78 complaints with district election commissions (DECs). Majority of the complaints sought imposition of liability on precinct election commission (PEC) members, while 11 sought annulment of summary protocol and revision of results due to gaps and inaccuracies in summary protocols.
As of now, DECs have granted 24 claims by imposing liability on commission members, mostly chairperson. Reproofs were applied most frequently as a type of disciplinary liability, while in 4 cases wages of PEC members were docked.
Results from portable ballot box was annulled in one case – Lanckhuti precinct N6.
6 claims were granted in part while seven were rejected. None of the claims for annulment of summary protocols were granted as in majority of cases polling results were revised and correction protocols were drawn up.
In general, complaints filed by ISFED have been reviewed in compliance with applicable legal procedures, with only minor exceptions. DECs examine factual circumstances, ISFED’s representative are allowed to attend the complaints review and express the position of the organization over individual complaints filed.
Complaints process proved to be most problematic in Batumi District Election Commission where commission unlawfully refused to consider three of ISFED’s complaints consideration. ISFED has already filed subsequent complaint in court.
Complaints process is still ongoing in DECs. ISFED will update the information accordingly and provide it to public in parallel with the process.