New Voting Technologies in Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections
Georgia is scheduled to hold much-anticipated parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024. This time around 90 percent of Georgian citizens will vote in polling stations using electronic means: special voter verification equipment will be used to check voter identity; voters will fill in paper ballots and feed the ballot into optical ballot scanners. At the […]
International Society for Fair Election and Democracy
ISFED is an indipendent non-for-profit non-governmental organization with one of the broadest regional networks in Georgia. It was established in 1995 for the purpose of carrying out citizen monitoring on elections and related political processes. Throughout these years, ISFED has made an important contribution to the improvement of the Election Code as well as electoral […]
Outlook ahead of Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections
As Georgia prepares for its upcoming parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024, significant changes are underway. This election marks a historic shift to a fully proportional electoral system, with all 150 members of parliament set to be elected in a single nationwide constituency under a 5% threshold. A notable feature is the widespread adoption of […]
Outlook ahead of Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections
Independent international consultant Tamara Sartania provides insight into electoral system, election administration, electronic voting technologies, undecided voters and heated rhetoric in Georgia. The next parliamentary elections in Georgia are set to take place on October 26, 2024. The elections will be conducted under the newly introduced fully proportional electoral system, and all 150 members […]
Statement: On the road to the European Union. ISFED’s vision on steps to be taken by Georgia regarding elections
On December 14, the European Council supported the decision and granted Georgia the status of a candidate. On November 8, the European Commission presented a report on the EU enlargement package, which includes nine steps that will determine Georgia’s further progress in the process of European integration. Some of the nine steps are continuations of […]
ISFED: The Parliament should not adopt the draft law restricting the freedom of assembly and expression
On October 2, the majority MPs at the Parliament of Georgia submitted a draft law that is being considered in an accelerated manner. The proposed changes will put extreme restrictions on the freedom of assembly and expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and international standards. We believe that such legislative changes will be a […]
Challenges for election campaign finance in Georgia
EPDE member ISFED published a study on financial challenges for Georgian political parties and election campaigns. The study aims to identify the financial challenges for the election campaigns of the political parties during the elections, as well as invisible barriers for regional politicians, women, representatives of ethnic minorities, and independent candidates.
Study: Challenges for election campaign finance in Georgia
According to the OSCE Copenhagen Document, signatory states, including Georgia, agree to ensure political campaigning in a fair and free environment. The Venice Commission’s Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters also establishes that equal opportunity shall be guaranteed for parties and candidates alike. To ensure this principle, the 2003 recommendation of the Committee of […]
Statement: The rules for electing the CEC chairperson and professional members is not improved sufficiently
On September 6, five parliamentary majority members submitted two draft laws to the parliament: the amendments to the Election Code of Georgia and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia. These draft laws, if adopted, will once again change the selection rule for electing the members of the Central Election Commission of Georgia […]
Policy Paper: Electoral Systems for Georgia’s Representative Bodies: Existing Problems and the Ways of Their Resolution
EPDE member ISFED published a policy paper titled “Electoral Systems for Georgia’s Representative Bodies: Existing Problems and the Ways of Their Resolution”. The paper is authored by ISFED’s Senior Researcher Shota Narsia. The policy paper evaluates electoral systems for three levels of representative bodies in Georgia – the Parliament of Georgia, Supreme Council of […]