Georgia Votes in Runoffs

Runoff elections will be held in 50 single-mandate (majoritarian) districts on 30 October. The Central Election Commission (CEC) said voting will be held in 2229 precincts with listed 2 478 042 voters.

The Parliamentary polls of 8 October defined an outright winner (50%+1 vote) in 23 districts – all from the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (GDDG). The remaining 50 districts will be contested by the two candidates with the best result. To enter the parliament through a runoff vote, a candidate must win a simple majority of votes.

GDDG contests 49 out of 50 remaining seats. In one, Mtatsminda district of Tbilisi GDDG backs an independent candidate against the UNM challenger.

In two districts – Zugdidi and Gori – UNM candidate Sandra Roelofs and the leader of Free Democrats Irakli Alasania have announced their intention not to contest the second round. Their names will, however, remain on the ballot as such drop-outs are not foreseen by the legislation.

GDDG and UNM candidates confront each other in 44 districts. UNM candidates came first in only two of these – Marneuli and Akhaltsikhe/Adigeni. In two districts – Mtskheta and Lanchkhuti/Chokhatauri – GDDG runners up will face independent challengers. In Chiatura district GDDG is challenged by the candidate from Free Democrats and in Khashuri – from Industrialists.

Runoffs will also be held in the Supreme Council of Adjara Autonomous Republic. GDDG and UNM candidates will face off to claim the six majoritarian seats.

Also on 30 October, snap elections will be held to fill the vacant positions for Akhaltsikhe Mayor and Zugdidi, Kharagauli and Bolnisi Gamgebelis (Council Heads). All contests are between GDDG and UNM candidates.

"Election administration is ready to hold these elections professionally and to guarantee access to all," said CEC Spokesperson Ana Mikeladze during 29 October briefing. She called upon voters to turn out and on all parties to "help in holding the elections in a calm and free atmosphere."

As the polls close at 20:00 Tbilisi time, CEC will start posting the precinct results on its website (results.cec.gov.ge) as they come in.

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