Georgia Elects Parliament

There are 150 seats up for grabs in the new parliament.

Three election blocs and nine parties are running in the elections; only four or five of them are likely to clear the 5% threshold necessary to gain any of the 75 seats allocated through the proportional, party-list system.

Remaining 75 seats are contested between majoritarian MP candidates in 75 single-mandate constituencies, including ten in Tbilisi.

Majoritarian seats in single-mandate constituencies will be hotly disputed among the parties.

A majoritarian MP candidate winning more than others and more than only 30% of the vote would be declared the outright winner in the first round without the need for a runoff.

Under this rule ruling National Movement party majoritarian MP candidates are better positioned because they are competing with several candidates from various opposition parties or blocs, which splits overall opposition vote.

President Saakashvili said the May 21 elections were “test in unity” for the country and Nino Burjanadze, the chairperson of the outgoing parliament, said these polls are “test in democracy.”

Officials say over 800 international observers have been registered at the Central Election Commission, including over 400 from the main international election observation mission operated under the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The mission’s preliminary conclusions are expected for May 22.

There are total of 3,465,736 eligible voters, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Elections are administered by Central Election Commission, wherein six are appointed by the opposition parties and seven by the ruling party. Mid-level election administration District Election Commissions and Precinct Election Commissions are also composed with the same formula.

Along with 3,558 regular precinct election commissions, there also are 73 special polling stations – at military barracks/units, detention centers and hospitals. Two polling stations were established for Georgian military personnel in Iraq. 47 polling stations have been opened in Georgia’s embassies and consulates abroad.