We want some votes, not others
Georgia’s population widely perceives the upcoming parliamentary election on 26 October as a threshold for the country’s future. The current Georgian Dream government’s latest policy decisions include the adoption of the Russian-style ”Foreign Influence” law requiring the entities and media outlets receiving over 20% of their income from foreign sources to register as ”agents of foreign influence”, alongside an anti-LGBTQ law. Both of these have ignited discriminatory sentiments in society, and have caused the EU and the US to distance themselves from Georgia. Western officials have consistently urged Georgians to engage in the electoral process to help restore relations. However, the ruling party is doing its best to retain its grip on power; it remains uncertain whether voter turnout will be sufficient to instigate a change in government.
Polling for some, not for all
For those living abroad, 60 polling stations in 42 countries will serve the Georgian diaspora during the election day. First-time polling sites are opening in the UAE, Finland, South Korea, Japan, and Australia, and yet, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has decided to neglect emigrants’ demand for additional polling stations in Spain, Italy, France, and the US.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia stated that polling stations and their locations were based on data provided by the Foreign Ministry, which justified the absence of additional stations due to a lack of sufficient voters (at least 50 are needed to open a polling station). However, many Georgian citizens abroad accuse the Foreign Ministry of deliberately removing their names from voter lists, prompting the CEC to limit the number of polling stations. According to local civic organisations, 67,347 Georgian citizens from the diaspora were registered as voters at consulates in early August, but by the end of September, only 65,000 were included in the voter list provided to the CEC. The Foreign Ministry denies any wrongdoing, and the CEC is not yielding to the demands of emigrants.
Weaponising transparency
The Georgian Dream (GD) government has gained notoriety for its discreet suppression of dissent and democratic organisations, using sophisticated legal tools like the 'Foreign Influence' law, which is poised for full implementation. In a surprising move, GD has used the Anti-Corruption Bureau – established under EU guidance – as a means of oppression. On 30 September, the bureau rendered the non-government organisation Transparency International Georgia (TI) and the newly established civic movement Choose Europe as ”entities with a declared electoral purpose.” This made them equivalent to political parties, requiring full financial reports, and thus limited their involvement as election observers.
”Ghost residents”
Recently, many Georgian citizens have uncovered strangers registered at their home addresses on the Central Election Commission (CEC) website – individuals unknown to the homeowners and invisible on utility bills. The Bishop of the Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia became the whistleblower, founding seven such ”ghost residents” at her address, bringing the issue to light on social media. This alarming trend has led to suspicions that the ruling Georgian Dream party may be inflating voter rolls by registering fictitious people, potentially skewing election results. To remove these phantom voters, citizens must go through a bureaucratic process, involving witnesses and a wait of up to 10 working days.
The fears about potential election fraud have transcended Georgia’s borders, as the parliamentary assembly of Council of Europe has published the statement “Elections in Georgia – alarming developments”, expressing concern over actions by the ruling party aimed at undermining the electoral process.