Key Facts and Figures
The January 5 early polls were the first-ever competitive presidential elections, unlike the previous polls in 1991 (Zviad Gamsakhurdia won 86.5% of votes); 1995 and 2000 (Eduard Shevardnadze won elections with 70% and 80% of votes, respectively) and in 2004 (Mikheil Saakashvili won over 96% of votes.)
Below are key facts and figures about the forthcoming elections, including about election administrations, candidates, election funds and voters list.
Presidential Candidates
There are seven candidates contesting in the January 5 early elections for the five-year presidential term.
Below is the list of candidate in accordance to their numbers in the ballot paper:
1. Levan Gachechiladze – nominated by the nine-party opposition coalition;
2. Badri Patarkatsishvili – a business and media tycoon. He although said was withdrawing from the race, but officially he remains a candidate unless he asks the CEC to drop his status of a candidate;
3. Davit Gamkrelidze – the leader of opposition New Rights Party;
4. Shalva Natelashvili – the leader of opposition Labor Party;
5. Mikheil Saakashvili – the ex-president and leader of ruling National Movement Party;
6. Giorgi Maisashvili – the leader of Party of Future;
7. Irina Sarishvili – the leader of Hope party.
According to the law a candidate can withdraw from the race before midday, January 4.
Second round of vote will be needed if neither of the candidates garners 50% plus one vote on January 5. The second round will be held after two weeks.
Plebiscites
Two plebiscites will be held simultaneously with the January 5 early presidential elections – one about the timing of the parliamentary question and another one about NATO.
Plebiscite – unlike a referendum – is non-binding. However, according to the draft constitutional amendment expected to be discussed in late January, the result of the January 5 plebiscite will become binding. The proposal will apply only to this particular plebiscite results.
Plebiscite on the timing of parliamentary elections involves following question: do you agree or not to hold parliamentary elections in spring?
And the question about NATO is as follows: do you want Georgia to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO?
Election Administrations
Central Election Commission (CEC) is the main body administering elections.
CEC is composed of 13 members, wherein six are appointed by six opposition parties and one by the ruling National Movement party. Remaining six members, including the Chairman, are formally non-partisan, certified election official; in fact, however, they are all affiliated with the ruling party. As a result the authorities hold majority seats in the CEC – seven against six opposition members.
CEC Members:
Levan Tarkhnishvili – chairman;
Davit Kirtadze – deputy chairman;
Gizo Mchedlidze – secretary;
Giorgi Areshidze – certified election official;
Lukhum Burjaliani – certified election official;
Emzar Pazhava – certified election official;
Davit Gurgenidze – ruling National Movement party;
Zurab Marakvelidze – opposition Republican Party;
Giorgi Javakhishvili – opposition Industrialists party;
Nodar Museridze – opposition New Rights party;
Giorgi Mtvarelidze – opposition Labor Party;
Davit Bardavelidze – opposition Freedom party;
Nino Goguadze – opposition Conservative party.
District Election Commissions (DEC) – are middle-level election administrations set up in 76 election districts.
DECs are composed solely by certified election officials and political parties have no members there.
As a result of the most recent amendments to the election code in November, 2007, DECs powers have been cut and they will no longer be able to annual or count vote tallies received from the precinct commissions. DECs will only have, what lawmakers called, “transit functions”, linking precincts with the CEC.
Precinct Election Commissions (PEC) – are the lowers level of election administrations, but of crucial importance as they administer polling station and are first bodies to count votes.
There are total of 3,506 polling stations throughout Georgia; plus total of 73 special polling stations for military units, including three in Iraq and Kosovo for Georgian soldiers serving there. Special polling stations are also designed for pre-trial detention centers and hospitals.
40 polling stations have been opened in Georgia’s embassies and consulates abroad;
The law stipulates that maximum number of voters registered on a single precinct should not exceed 1,500. The number was cut down from initial 2,000 as a result of amendments in November, 2007. However, there are about 150 polling stations, mostly in rural areas, where houses have no addresses, where over 1,500 voters are allowed to be registered in a single precinct.
Decrease of number of voters eligible to vote on particular polling station has triggered change of borders of the precincts. As a result, voters are now expected to receive a special cards on January 3, two days prior to elections, indicating an exact address of their respected polling stations.
Voters List
There are total of 3,352,448 registered voters in Georgia, according to the CEC’s information updated on December 2.
The list has been compiled by the CEC through ‘the door-to-door’ rechecking process. The lists were posted on CEC website and voters can also recheck themselves in the lists through the CEC hotline.
Voter registration on the polling day has been allowed after the Parliament approved amendments to the election code. Opponents, however, were against registering voters on polling day, fearing voter fraud – what is popularly known as ‘merry-go-round’ voting, whereby an individual casts several ballots in different polling stations.
Election Funds
Within five days after registration, each candidate should launch an election fund, according to the law.
A candidate can raise no more than GEL 30,000 (about USD 18,000) from an individual person and maximum GEL 100,000 (about USD 62,500) from a company.
Donations from anonymous contributors are prohibited.
Each candidate has to submit to the Central Election Commission a detailed record of funds and contributors within a month after final official results are announced. Candidate can lose votes garnered during the election in the event of violation of funding rules.
Other Key Figures and Deadlines
• Deadline for CEC to announce final results of the elections expires on January 13;
• There is no lower margin of voter turnout, so election would be valid even if one percent of voters turn out at the polling stations on January 5;
• If needed, the second round of elections should be held in two weeks after the first round;