By-elections 2019: 6.8% voter turnout by 10 a.m.
26,933 voters cast their ballots in today’s by-elections by 10 a.m. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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27,256 voters, accounting for 6.8 percent of the total number of voters, cast their ballots in today’s by-elections by 10 a.m., two hours after the polling stations opened in Georgia, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced.
The voter turnout at Mtatsminda district in Tbilisi was 1,752, which is 4 percent of eligible voters.
The voter turnout in other election districts by 10 a.m. was the following:
- Sagarejo – 70 voters (15.4 percent);
- Akhmeta – 140 voters (11.5 percent);
- Marneuli – 5,699 voters (5.7 percent);
- Adigeni – 105 voters (9.3 percent);
- Zestraponi – 3,872 voters (7 percent);
- Chiatura – 2,862 voters (6.7 percent);
- Tkibuli – 246 voters (6.9 percent);
- Tskaltubo – 353 voters (8.4 percent);
- Ozurgeti – 323 voters (6.3 percent);
- Zudgigi – 9,734 voters (8.1 percent);
- Khulo – 2,100 voters (8.7 percent)
Polls opened at 8 p.m. this morning for 402,091 eligible voters at 410 polling stations.
Municipal elections were held in Georgia in October 2017, while parliamentary elections were held in October 2016. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Elections are being held:
- in the Mtatsminda district of Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi to elect an MP;
- in five municipalities: Marneuli, Zestaponi, Chiatura, Zugdidi and Khulo to elect mayors;
- in eight municipalities: Sagarejo, Akhmeta, Adigeni, Zestaponi, Chiatura, Tkibuli, Tskaltubi and Ozurgeti to elect members of Sakrebulo [city council].
Five individuals have been detained for administrative offences, while an investigation has been opened for two criminal offences related to today’s by-elections in Tbilisi and in the regions, Deputy Interior Minister Natia Mezvrishvili has reported.
A total of 67,217 people have cast their ballots in today’s by-elections four hours since the polling stations opened, announces the Central Election Commission.
The leader of the parliamentary majority Archil Talakvadze presented an audio recording of “the closest circle” of former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and his wife Sandra Roelofs, now running in the by-elections for Zugdidi mayor, at a special briefing several minutes ago.
Central Election Commission has reported violations at several election stations. Spokeswoman Ana Mikeladze said observers and members of political party have taken voters’ ID cards and wrote down their data, which is a violation.
Four hours have passed since the opening of polling stations in Georgia and the opposition has already claimed that violations at various polling stations have taken place, while the ruling party claims the elections are underway in a peaceful environment and without violations.
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who has cast his ballot at Mtatsminda polling station No. 5 in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, said law enforcers will ensure that today’s by-elections are held in a democratic and free environment.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has recently stated that she is “actively following” pre-election developments in Georgia and is concerned by the “extremely tense situation” in Zugdidi, the country’s west.
The citizens of Georgia will elect one parliament member, five mayors and members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) across the country tomorrow, May 19. Polls will open at 8 am at 410 polling stations where 402,091 voters are registered.
Over 117,000 voters made their electoral choices for the ongoing by-elections in districts across Georgia by 3p.m. local time, the Election Administration of Georgia has revealed.
Georgia is going to the polls today to elect a member of parliament, five mayors and members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) across the country. Polls opened at 8 a.m. this morning for 402,091 eligible voters at 410 polling stations.