The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy’s (ISFED’s) observers reported violations of the secrecy during the self-government elections on October 2.
According to ISFED’s Monitoring Mission, violations of the secrecy in voting are still occurring. In some cases, voters showed their ballots to people inside the polling stations before placing them into the ballot box.
ISFED reports that multiple violations have been reported at two polling booths in Marneuli. Voters cast their ballots in both polling booths without presenting identification, and without completing the inking process or the procedure for checking the inking. At the polling station, the secrecy surrounding votes was also violated. The organization asked for the annulment of the results at the polling station.
There are still cases of people marking the names of voters inside polling booths and passing their personal information to third parties.
Restriction of rights for ISFED observers is still a problem. This manifests itself mainly in the creation of a hostile environment. These facts have been occurring since the opening of the polling stations and on a constant basis.
Information on the voting process is available by 17:00
According to the results of the PVT, the following voter turnout stats were reported:
* The voter turnout in the country at 17:00 is 41.3% (with a margin error of +/-1.7%), which is a slight improvement compared to 2017 local elections when the voter turnout was 36.7% by 17:00;
* The voter turnout in Tbilisi was 39.1% with a margin error of +/-1.7%. This is a slight improvement compared to 2017 local elections where the voter turnout at 17:00 was only 34.7%.
* Voter turnout in the regions was 42% (with an error margin of +/- 0.7%), which is a slight improvement compared to 2017 local elections when voter turnout at 17:00 was 37.5%.
In 98.9% polling stations the voting was conducted in accordance with Covid-19 regulations. This is statistically similar to 96.2% of the polling stations at the 2020 parliamentary election.
Observation of outside perimeter of PECs
ISFED collected data from all 121 of the precincts in the sample. It has deployed observers to the perimeters of each precinct. According to PVT results:
* In 20% of polling stations suspicious gatherings of people were reported within 100 meters of the polling station, while in 8.3%, suspicious gatherings of persons were reported outside the 100-meter range.
* In 13.3% (100 m) of the polling booths, representatives from a party, an NGO, or others noted (e.g. Marks were placed next to the names of voters. In 4.2% polling stations, marking was done beyond 100 meters of the polling station.
ISFED observers observed that in 18.3% of polling stations, voters were transported to the polling station by organized and systematic mobilization.
Voting process violations
As of today, ISFED has identified the following violations.
Tracking voters at polling stations (3)
* The Support League of America, an observation organization, was taking notes of the personal information of voters who came to vote at the polling station #96 of electoral district #79 in Batumi and transferred the information via phone conversation.
* At the polling station #44, in the electoral district #9, (Nadzeladevi), there were more ballot papers than signatures on the voter’s list.
* At the polling station #60 in the electoral district #20 Rustavi, a representative of Georgian Dream takes notes of the personal data of voters and transfers it to unknown persons via telephone conversation.
Voting without a personal identification card/grounds of annulment (2)
* The majority of voters at polling station #48 in electoral district #22 Marneuli cast their votes without a personal ID document. Voters cast their votes based on their assigned line number. The election commission did not address the issue despite multiple notices. ISFED then requested that the DEC in question annul the results of the polls;
* Multiple cases of voting without a personal ID document have been reported at polling station #14 of electoral district #22 (Marneuli). The inking process is not properly performed or checked. ISFED observers were also restricted at various times throughout the day. The commission member who supervises a supervisor of the ballot box and envelope has violated the secrecy several times. ISFED contacted the relevant DEC and requested the annulment polling results.
Violation of secrecy in voting (1)
* At the polling station number 19 of the electoral district, Abasha, around 15 voters presented their choice to representatives of Georgian Dream as well as other members of commission. Despite the chairperson’s notice, the problem has not been resolved.
Restriction of the rights of observers
* ISFED observers at polling station #15 in the electoral district #16 are treated badly, insulted and denied the opportunity to perform their duty.
Obstruction of work by observers (2)
* At polling stations #12 and #12 of the Electoral District #1 (Mtatsminda), an observer from the NGO Alterativa NGO engages in close communications with the voters. He makes noise, chaos and disturbs the situation. The chairperson of the commission did not respond when asked to address the issue.
Error relating to the list of voters (four)
* At polling station 29 of the electoral district #5 in Isani, double-checking of the ballot papers and the signatures revealed that the registrar had released more ballots then the number of signatures on the list. The registrar explained that the signature of a voter was missing.
* At the polling station #51 in the electoral district #60, (Ozurgeti), the registrar released the ballot paper without securing a signature from the voter on the list.
* At the voting station #68 in the electoral district #10 it was found that the number issued of ballots for a proportional ballot was greater than the number issued of signatures and the number issued of ballots for a majoritarian ballot was one less ballot than the signatures.
* At polling station #10 in electoral district #68, the registrar distributed a ballot to the voter without his signature. The registrar added the signature to the table version of voters’ list after the voter left. The voter was asked to return to the polling station when the violation was discovered.
Violations of the inking procedures (2)
* At the polling station #49 in the Electoral District #2 (Vake), voters were allowed to vote without having to go through the marking process;
* At the polling station #74 in the electoral district #2, (Vake), it was noted that the voter had been registered at another voting station. The person’s right of vote was then restricted.
Problems with electoral documentation
* At the polling station #46 in the electoral district #2, Vake, there were 52 ballots instead of 50. The registrar provided an explanation.
Mobile boxes: problems and solutions (3)
* At the polling station #10 in the electoral district #10, after the mobile box voting had ended, it appeared that the registrar had not stamped five ballots;
* A mistake was made in the identification number for a voter at the polling station #64 in the electoral district #79 in Batumi. The voter was allowed the opportunity to vote. The chairperson gave an explanation that the voter had entered the wrong identification number when registering over phone.
* At polling station #14 of the electoral district #62, a voter who wasn’t registered on the mobile box list voted through mobile voting. A person who was registered in the mobile list was denied the right to use mobile voting. The mobile box was returned to the voting station, and then removed again so that the person on the mobile box list can vote.
Complaints (137), and statements (40).
ISFED observers filed 70 complaints with precinct elections commissions, 66 at district election commissions, and 40 entries into the record book. One complaint was filed at the CEC.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy is monitoring the Municipal Elections in Georgia on October 2, 2021. This includes all electoral districts (excluding the occupied territory).
ISFED will issue the next statement at 23:30.
Source: ISFED
All polling stations are closed in Georgia after the local Sef-Government elections
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