Statement Regarding the proceedings of the voting process 12 November 18:30

Public Movement Multinational Georgia (PMMG) conducts the Elections Day monitoring program for 21 October 2017 Run-off Elections of Mayor of Self-Governing City/Self-governing Community.

The Elections Day monitoring program covers Borjomi # 36, Khashuri # 35 and Khazbegi # 29 electoral districts (ED).

The Elections Day monitoring program is being implemented by 83 short term observers deployed by the PMMG including 63 static observers, 16 mobile group observers, 3 district election commission observes and 1 central election commission observers.

The monitoring program fully covers Borjomi # 36 and Khazbegi # 29 electoral districts. As for Khashuri # 35 electoral district, the monitoring program covers only those electoral precincts located inside of City Khashuri.

For the purpose of effective realization of Elections Day monitoring program PMMG mobilized  incidents’ center operators stationed at its head office. Incidents’ center operators process the electoral findings as obtained from program deployed short term observers. Moreover, the hot line is being functional at the PMMG office thus enabling all the interested parties to report electoral findings to the organization’s head office.

The Elections Day monitoring program is being supported by the lawyers engaged into the program.

PMMG short term observers have reported the following shortcomings as revealed during voting process:

At #  26 electoral precinct of # 36 Borjomi electoral district the member of the precinct election commission has openly advised the voter (being in need of support) whom to cast a vote. The incident was challenged by PMMG short term observer. The respective complaint was filed to the precinct election commission.  

At #  21 electoral precinct of # 36 Borjomi electoral district the incident was reported by PMMG short term observer according to which the voter has casted a vote without presenting a proper document (the ID with the made 2 holes – not valid). The incident was challenged by PMMG short term observer. The respective complaint was filed to the precinct election commission. 

At #  5 electoral precinct of #  36 Borjomi electoral district the incident was reported by PMMG short term observer according to which the marking checking appliance was not functioning by12:07. The incident was challenged by PMMG short term observer. As a result the shortcoming was timely eradicated and the new appliance was introduced.

At # 5 electoral precinct of # 36 Borjomi electoral district the incident was reported by PMMG short term observer according to which the excessive number of voters was identified at the polling station by 12:40. The incident was challenged by PMMG short term observer. As a result the number of voters has become regulated at the polling station by the respective member (queue regulator) of the precinct election commission.

There was an incident reported from # 25 electoral precinct of # 36 Borjomi electoral district according to which 3 envelopes were inserted into the movable ballot box without the respective number of the ballots. The incident was challenged by PMMG short term observer. As a result the explanatory note was developed by the respective members of the precinct elections commission according to which they have accidently inserted the envelopes while driving. The shortcoming was eradicated and 3 envelopes were issued.

Number of people were standing at the entrance of # 13 electoral precinct of # 36 Borjomi electoral district and interfering in the voting process – shouting as well as making video. As a result of verbal objection raised by PMMG short term observer, the chairperson of the precinct election commission called the police, which eventually ousted the underlined people from the territory of electoral precinct.

There was an incident reported from # 19 electoral precinct of # 36 Borjomi electoral district according to which the number of voters’ signatures did not coincide with the number of issued bullet papers by 17:00. The incident was challenged by PMMG short term observer. As a result the member of precinct election commission (registrar) has drafted an explanatory note and consequently admitted the made unintentional mistake. PMMG observer has filed and submitted a complaint to the precinct election commission. 

Hereby it has to be noted that since 2003 PMMG is actively engaged in a process of promotion of fair elections as well as effective realization of electoral procedures. Organization conducted Elections Day monitoring for all elections held in the country.

21 October 2017Run-off Elections of Mayor of Self-Governing City/Self-governing Community monitoring program is being implemented with the support provided by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia, “Open Society-Georgia Foundation” (OSGF), the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The content of the statement is under the sole responsibility of PMMG and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the donor organizations. 

2017-11-12 18:42:06| | 10296