**Georgia’s Election Commission Approves New Rules Limiting Access to Polling Stations**
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia has approved changes to election-day procedures that have sparked criticism from civil society groups, the president, and opposition figures. The new rules limit media and observer access to polling stations, making it more difficult to detect electoral fraud.
**Tighter Security Measures**
Under the new regulations, individuals will be prohibited from demanding to see or take a voter’s identification card at the polling station. Media representatives will also face restrictions, with only one photo or video allowed per 10-minute period. The recording devices must be removed from the building after high-profile individuals have voted.
**Criticism Mounts**
Critics argue that these changes significantly reduce transparency and limit the ability of election observers to detect possible fraud. Nino Dolidze, executive director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), expressed concern about the changes, stating, “Observers will no longer be able to detect people trying to vote on behalf of others, which is one of the main methods of electoral fraud.”
President Salome Zurabishvili also weighed in on the matter, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party of attempting to legalize carousel voting. She claimed that the changes demonstrate the GD’s nervousness about upcoming elections and their attempts to prepare for them through pressure, corruption, and manipulation.
**History of Electoral Fraud**
Allegations of carousel voting surfaced during the contested October 26, 2024 elections, when a journalistic investigation exposed multiple cases of individuals attempting to vote on behalf of others using different identification documents. Election workers related to the ruling GD party allegedly facilitated the fraud.
My Vote, the local observation mission that unites dozens of Georgian CSOs, called for the annulment of more than 300,000 votes in the October 26 elections after an electoral fraud scheme was uncovered. The organization pointed to various schemes, including carousel voting, as one of the problematic issues.
**Expert Analysis**
These changes are a clear attempt by the ruling party to limit transparency and control the narrative around upcoming elections. By restricting media access and limiting observer capabilities, the GD is attempting to make it more difficult for anyone to detect electoral fraud. This move is likely to exacerbate existing tensions between the government and civil society groups.
In essence, these changes demonstrate a lack of trust in Georgia’s democratic institutions by the ruling party. By trying to limit transparency, they are essentially saying that they have something to hide. As President Zurabishvili pointed out, this move suggests that the GD is preparing for elections, but even that may not be enough to save them from the consequences of their actions.
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