Polling stations opened on October 22 for repeat elections in those four precincts, where the October 8 parliamentary election results were annulled.
Repeat elections are held in Marneuli election district’s No.48 precinct, where 1 436 voters are registered, as well as in Zugdidi election district’s three precincts – No.38, No.79, and No.108, where a total of 2 844 voters cast ballot.
“The voting is being held in a calm atmosphere,” Anna Mikeladze, CEC spokesperson, said and called on voters for higher turnout.
Outcome of these repeat elections will decide whether the second round contest for majoritarian MP seat will be required in Marneuli and Zugdidi single-mandate constituencies.
Voting in the October 8 parliamentary elections was disrupted by a violent incident at the precinct No.48 in Marneuli municipality’s village of Kizilajlo after opposition supporters tried to storm the polling station. Six men were arrested and sent to pretrial detention in connection to the incident.
UNM’s majoritarian MP candidate Akmamed Imamquliyev is leading the race in Marneuli over his closest competitor, GDDG’s Tamaz Naveriani, with 47.91% to 43.41% of votes. Imamquliyev, according to preliminary results, has a lead by a margin of 907 votes.
Georgia’s ex-first lady Sandra Roelofs of UNM and GDDG’s Edisher Toloraia are the main contenders with the later leading the race with to 47.37% to 45.71% by a margin of 372 votes.
Repeat elections in three precincts of Zugdidi’s election district No.66 has to decide whether there will be an outright winner of the race or it will be into the second round.
Two polling stations in Zugdidi municipality – No.79 and No.108, in the village of Jikhashkari were raided and polling materials destroyed during the vote counting on the night of October 8. Two men were arrested in connection to these incidents; one of them, supporter of the GDDG ruling party, was sent to pretrial detention.
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