According to observer organizations, electoral procedures are proceeding with significant violations. Key findings include:
ISFED Statement (14:00):
Using the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology, incidents were reported from 9.1% of observers. These include violations of voting secrecy, restrictions on observers’ rights, physical violence against observers, voter mobilization, and multiple technical malfunctions of electronic devices. Mass ballot stuffing was detected at polling station #69 in Marneuli electoral district, while at Ambrolauri polling station #18, a commission member voted twice.
According to PVT results, nationwide voter turnout reached 22.7% by 12:00 (with a margin of error of +/-0.7%). Earlier, at 10:00, the turnout was 9.27%, with 324,197 voters having cast their ballots nationwide.
ISFED observers report various violations, including:
- Restrictions on observation rights
- Voter list irregularities
- Problems with ballot distribution (including multiple ballot issuance, raising risks of potential “carousel voting”)
- Violations of inking procedures
- Breaches of voting secrecy
- Multiple voting instances
- Suspected voter bribery
Coalition “Our Voice” Report (12:00):
The coalition reports an alarming trend of multiple ballot distribution to single voters, with approximately 50 such cases documented nationwide across various electoral districts. The coalition warns this creates high risks of falsification and could cause balancing issues in final protocols. They suggest these actions might be aimed at artificially creating grounds for invalidating polling station results or enabling other manipulations.
The coalition summarizes current violations:
- Improper inking verification at 49 polling stations
- Voter verification violations at 8 stations using electronic voting
- Inking procedure violations at 68 stations
- Technical issues with electronic voting equipment at 125 stations
- Observer rights restricted at 38 stations
Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) Statement (15:00):
GYLA reports that the process continues with “significant violations,” including breaches of voting secrecy, illegal campaigning, and interference with observer and media activities, which they say undermines electoral fairness and security. The organization highlights severe violations, including the organized transport of apparently pre-inked individuals to polling stations.
Central Election Commission (CEC) remarks, 15:00:
The CEC Chairperson counters these reports, stating that “there are some cases of interference with precinct election commissions’ work.” CEC denies reports about double ballot distribution, explaining that “the vote-counting machine physically cannot accept two ballots simultaneously. Any mechanical errors in ballot distribution are identified immediately on-site.”
However, observer organizations maintain that these incidents “create high risks of falsification and could cause balancing issues in final protocols. These actions might be aimed at artificially creating grounds for invalidating polling station results or enabling other manipulations.” Various television stations are broadcasting footage of alleged violence and other potential violations, with observer missions currently verifying these incidents.
