Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) is monitoring October 31 majoritarian by-elections in Martvili and Sagarejo. 

 

As of 11:00 am, the polling process is taking place in a peaceful environment. Majority of electoral districts where GYLA observed opening of polling stations were ready on time to receive first voter. GYLA’s observers find it unnecessary to file complaints because most of the PEC chairs are responding to concerns of the observers. 

 

At this time, GYLA’s observers have reported the following violations: 

 

Culpable/improper performance of official duties of election worker

 

There was a chaos at Sagarejo no.5 electoral precincts where representatives of the Georgian Patriots’ Alliance confronted the PEC chair for hiding a stack of ballot papers intended for the use of the electoral precinct and presented 12 stacks instead of 13. The PEC chair rejected the allegations. 

 

Observer from GYLA’s mobile team reviewed the handover act and personally counted all stacks of ballot papers at the precinct. It turned out that a stack no.0075 included in the handover act was missing from the precinct. Later the PEC chair demonstratively produced stacks of ballot papers and counted them for everyone to see. This time, all thirteen stacks were in place, including the stack no.0075. It turned out that the PEC chair found the missing stack after GYLA’s observer intervened. Clearly, the PEC chair failed to adequately fulfill his official obligations. 

 

At Sagarejo no.36 electoral precinct, a voter was banned from voting on grounds that his name was listed under voters residing abroad on the voter list. The voter was able to cast a ballot afer GYLA’s observer intervened. 

 

Presence of unauthorized individuals at polling stations

 

NGO New Word had stationed observers at electoral precincts no.37 and no.22, two at each of the precinct. After GYLA’s observers expressed their concern, PEC chairs forced one of the two observers to leave the polling station. An observer from NGO International Observatory of Lawyers and Attorneys stationed at Martvili electoral precinct no.37 confirmed that he was a proxy of the coalition Georgian Dream. 

 

GYLA’s observers reported presence of individuals outside polling stations no.11 and no.37 of MArtvili and no.34 and no.11 of Sagarejo, registering voters that had arrived at the polls. This constitutes indirect control of voters’ free will and suggests the necessity to establish applicable legal regulations and introduce the notion of ‘area outside a polling station’ in the Election Code. 

 

Problems with equipment at polling stations

Ballot box was not properly sealed at Martvili electoral precinct no.13. Based on request of GYLA’s observer, district electoral commission sent a new seal to the precinct. 

Lamp meant to verify ink was out of order at Martvili electoral precinct no.31. It was replaced with a new one. Same problem was reported at Martvili electoral precinct no.15. The problem was solved by replacing a battery. 

GYLA’s observers have entered for reprimands in the election logbooks. 

 

Additional information

Up to 20 observers of GYLA are implementing Election Day monitoring, both statically and through mobile teams. Based on GYLA’s past experience, the monitoring focuses on precincts that proved to be especially problematic in previous elections – the so-called special precincts and precincts set up in areas predominantly populated by ethnic minorities. 

GYLA has been actively monitoring legislative, executive and local self-government elections in Georgia since the day it was founded in 1994, with the aim of promoting peaceful and fair administration of elections, and strict adherence to applicable election legislation. 

GYLA will sum up the Election Day monitoring at the end of the day.