Voices inside: why are the election rules being changed in Georgia
The Parliament of Georgia has adopted a new Electoral Code. The main change is that citizens will be able to vote only on the territory of the country, there will be no foreign polling stations. The authorities explain that in this way they protect the republic from external influence. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
The plot is not for everyone
The Georgian Parliament has approved a new version of the Electoral Code in the final reading. The main change is that citizens will no longer be able to vote outside the country, and foreign polling stations in embassies and consulates will not be opened. Representatives of the diaspora will have to come to their homeland to exercise the right to vote.
It is also forbidden to make audio recordings at polling stations. This is another important innovation: the media and the opposition often use such materials as evidence of falsifications. In addition, citizens who are convicted under criminal articles or fined by the court are prohibited from working in election commissions — as a result, many participants in the protests will be cut off.
Changes have also been made to the rules for registration of candidates. Political parties will be able to nominate only their own members. Non-partisans will need to create an initiative group. The registration procedure is simplified. Previously, the candidate had to provide two documents: an account card and a statement of party affiliation. Now written consent to participate in the elections is enough.
Finally, the procedure for expelling citizens from the premises of the polling station is being changed. If someone is kicked out of the premises, he will be prohibited from entering not only this area, but also all others. To do this, the election commission staff will register and transfer the data of the relevant persons to the general database.
The struggle for votes
The Georgian authorities explain that the amendments are needed to protect against foreign interference. "Elections around the world are becoming more vulnerable to external influences. Our parliamentary campaign in 2024 also showed how open and rude foreign information and political pressure on voters can be," said Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.
According to him, the risks of information manipulation are especially high for citizens who live outside Georgia. "Accordingly, the establishment of a voting procedure on the territory of Georgia increases the stability of elections, reduces the influence of external players and ensures a more adequate, informed choice," he stressed, adding that the amendments fully comply with international standards.
In turn, Archil Gorduladze, one of the authors of the innovations, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, says that the next parliamentary elections in 2028 will be held according to the new rules. "All the opposition's claims that representatives of the Diaspora in other countries are being deprived of the right to participate in elections are speculation," he said.
At the same time, some experts note that the new Electoral Code limits the influence on the EU country and prevents a repeat of the Moldovan scenario, that is, a situation in which the voice of representatives of foreign diasporas turned out to be decisive. This has been happening in Moldova for several electoral campaigns, and each time he tipped the scales in favor of candidates or parties supported by Western structures.
The opposition reminds that the ruling party traditionally loses in foreign polling stations, and it is precisely because of this that it was allegedly decided to close them. For example, in the parliamentary elections of 2024, the Georgian Dream received 13% and took third place. At the same time, this did not have a special impact on the overall result, because only 1.5% of the total number of voters voted outside the republic.
The founder of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, undergoes a thumb test for UV ink used to mark those who have already voted before entering the voting booth.
Others point out that Georgian migrants provide a significant influx of currency into the country. By the end of 2024, the volume of money transfers amounted to $3.4 billion. "It is impossible for a country to depend on citizens who are abroad, but at the same time limit their rights. This is immoral and harmful, we don't have any extra Georgians," said former President Salome Zurabishvili.
Opposition activist Tamta Mikeladze draws attention to the fact that elections in foreign polling stations are conducted by government agencies. "Embassies are subordinate to the ruling team, the ambassadors and staff appointed by it carry out all assignments. There has been no information about external interference in recent years. Accordingly, we are talking about an unfounded doctrine," she says.
Mikeladze also notes that Georgian emigration has a pronounced gender aspect — most often women go to work. "They already live in difficult conditions — far from home, separated from their relatives — they sacrifice a lot for a better future for their families and the country as a whole. It is sad to realize that someone's wives, mothers, sisters are being politically rejected," she complained.
The ruling party, in turn, talks about protecting sovereignty. Interestingly, at the same session, the deputies made another important decision. In the third and final reading, they approved the liquidation of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which was established on the recommendation of the European Union in 2022. The parliamentarians emphasize that the bureau monitored the declarations of officials and was an instrument of external control.
What the experts say
Vladimir Zharikhin, Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS Countries, calls the ban on voting abroad an excessive decision by the Georgian authorities.
— Citizens should have equal voting rights. The State is called upon to ensure and comply with this norm. Formally, of course, there is no question of a direct ban on voting in Georgia for those who are abroad, they can come to their homeland specifically for this purpose. In reality, it is difficult and expensive to do this, and the number of those who will be able to express their will will be greatly reduced. I don't think it's right," he stresses.
Petre Mamradze, a former member of the Georgian parliament, says that the innovations will improve the situation in the country.
— We know that representatives of the diaspora are in a specific information space, far from their homeland, they may form misconceptions. I believe that the decision not to open foreign sites is useful. People will be able to come to Georgia, talk to people, and see with their own eyes how the elections are going. No one is depriving them of the right to vote, but they will make their choice based on objective information," he believes.
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