By 10:00 the voting process is conducted in a calm environment. The majority of the electoral polling stations, in which GYLA observers are present, were prepared for the first voter in a timely manner. The majority of those polling stations were properly equipped. 

 

The identified problems mainly related to the procedure of casting of lots, control sheet and letting the observer inside the polling station. It is notable that in a number of cases, the Precinct Election Commission chairpersons have considered the remarks by GYLA observers, due to which GYLA observers did not file the complaints. 

 

GYLA has identified the following procedural violations: 

 

 

At the precinct #4 of the Terjola dstrict, the observers were not allowed in, citing that the observers have arrived late (that they did not arrive at the polling station by 07:00). Following the remark by GYLA observer the problem was resolved and the observers were allowed inside the polling station. 

 

 

 

At the precinct #77 of the Gldani district, the commission chairperson did not conduct a casting of lots for dividing up the functions and has assigned the functions to the commission members arbitrarily. In relation to this violation, GYLA observer has submitted the complaint and requested resolving the problem. 

 

At the precinct #68 of the Saburtalo district the commission members have arbitrarily exchanged the functions, assigned to them through the casting of lots. GYLA observer has submitted the complaint against the Precinct Election Commission, in which the observer requested resolving the problem. 

 

At the precinct #10 of the Krtsanisi district, the commission member, assigned to carry the mobile ballot box has refused to follow the mobile ballot box, after which the commission members has arbitrarily exchanged the functions with another commission member. GYLA observer has made verbal remark on the violation, after which the problem was resolved through conducting the casting of lots for the second time. 

 

 

According to the information, available to our observer, the representatives of the electoral bloc “Georgian Dream” were present at the adjacent territory of the precinct #56 of the Isani district; the representatives were counting the arriving voters. The mentioned fact might represent an indirect impact on the expression of voters’ will. Following GYLA observer’s remark, they have left the adjacent territory of the polling station. 

 

 

According to the information, available to GYLA observer, the citizen – Lasha Khuskivadze has tried to conduct an observation at the precinct #38 of the Mtatsminda district under the status of the “United National Movement” representative. However, after it was discovered, that another representative of the “United National Movement” was present at the same polling station, the commission did not allow Lasha Khuskivadze to be present at the plling station, after which he has left the polling station. After approximately an hour, Lasha Khuskivadze has arrived again, this time with the certificate of an observer of the observation organization “Club Free Zone” and tried to conduct an observation. GYLA has addressed the CEC for the examination of this fact. 

 

 

The secretary of the Precinct Election Commission of the precinct #96 of the Gori district has dropped two control sheets into the ballot box instead of the one. Following the remark by GYLA observer the problem was resolved – the ballot box was opened and the control sheet was taken out of the box. 

 

By now, GYLA observers have submitted 2 complaints and made 10 remarks in the logbooks on the above violations. 

From the day of its establishment in 1994, GYLA actively observes the elections of the legislative, executive and local self-governments and aims to support conducing the elections in a peaceful, fair environment and a to support steadfast protection of the legislation of Georgia during the electoral processes.

 

GYLA observes the second tour of the June 15 2014 Local Self-Government Executive Body Elections (elections of the self-governing city and community mayors and gamgebelis) in Tbilisi and in the 13 electoral districts. 

 

The static observers are designated to more than 300 polling stations throughout Georgia. The mobile groups drive around in 23 electoral districts. GYLA conducts observation on the polling stations, which turned out to be problematic during the June 15 election day. GYLA also observes the polling stations created under the exceptional circumstances (so-called special polling stations). 

 

It is notable that the hotline will operate on the election day, which will give both the citizens and the journalists a possibility to receive legal consultations on the election day procedures. 

 

The hotline number is: 218-26-11 

 

On the election day the hotline will also operate in GYLA for the journalists and media organizations. By calling the hotline number 230-61- 63  journalists and media organizations can receive the information that they are interested in and the legal consultations on the electoral procedures,  election day violations  and the ways to respond to them. Journalists will also have the possibility to inform us of the violations, identified by them on the election day. 

 

In addition, for receiving the exhaustive information on the election day violations, please visit the www.electionsportal.ge, where you can submit the information on the violations that you have identified through filling out the online form or through sending a free SMS on the number 90039. 

 

GYLA will conduct two more press-conferences on the election day observation process (venue: NGO media-center, address: Chavchavadze ave. 23). 

 

The press-conferences will be conducted at 16:00 and at 20:30. On July 13 GYLA will evaluate the election day on its press-conference that will be conducted at 11:00. 

 

 

The observation of the second tour of the June 15 2014 Local Self-Government Executive Body Elections (mayors and gamgebelis of the self-governing cities and communities) was made possible through the financial assistance of the “Open Society – Georgia Foundations” (OSGF). The opinions expressed in the statement belong to the “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” and might not reflect the views of the donor organization.