Information for Political Parties

A political Union of citizens (political party) is a voluntary and independent association founded on citizens’ common vision and organizational basis, registered in accordance with the procedures of Organic Law of Georgia on “Political Union of Citizens” and operates within the scope of the Constitution and legislation of Georgia;

A political party for the purposes of election code, is a political union of citizens acting in accordance with “Organic Law of Georgia of Political Union of Citizens”, which is registered by the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission to participate in elections;

An election subject is a party, election bloc or initiative group of voters or a candidate for membership of a representative body of public authority or public office, registered by the Chairperson of the respective election commission;

A candidate for becoming election subject is a person listed for registration in the respective election commission to participate in the elections;

A candidate for the Mayor is a citizen of Georgia, registered by the Chairperson of the respective election commission to run for Mayoral elections;

A candidate nominated through a party list is a citizen of Georgia enlisted in a party list, registered by the Chairperson of the relevant election commission to participate in the elections of the Parliament of Georgia and the Representative Body of Municipality -Sakrebulo;

A majoritarian candidate is a citizen of Georgia nominated in the election district by a party/election bloc/initiative group of voters, registered by the Chairperson of the relevant election commission to participate in elections of the Parliament of Georgia, Representative Body of Municipality- Sakrebulo.

Representative of Election Subject and His/Her Authority

A representative of an election subject (a party independently participating in the elections, election bloc, initiative group of voters) represents an election subject in relations with the appropriate election commission, within which he/she is registered according to the Election Code. A party, election bloc, independently participating in the elections, during one or several types of elections, shall be entitled to appoint only two representatives at every election commission. During the Parliamentary and Local Self-Government elections of Georgia, an initiative group of voter shall be entitled to appoint two representatives in relevant district and precinct election commissions. Representatives appointed in the CEC and DEC shall not be simultaneously appointed in the other election commissions.

An election subject/subjects shall notify the CEC Chairperson on the appointment of a representative at the CEC. In case of submission of complete information, CEC Chairperson shall, within 24 hours, by its ordinance, register the representative and issue representative certificate, which at the same time functions as a badge to be worn by the representative.

An election subject shall apply to the CEC Secretary on the appointment of a representative at the District Election Commission and shall apply to the relevant upper election commission Secretary to appoint the representative at the Precinct Election Commission. In case of submission of the complete information, the Secretary of the relevant election commission within 24 hours, by its ordinance, registers the representative of election subject and issues the certificate, which at the same time is a badge. Statement on appointment of the representatives of initiative group of voters at the District and Precinct Election Commissions shall be submitted to those DEC Secretary, who’s Chairperson registered the initiative group of voters.

Only one representative of the election subject shall have the right to attend the sessions of the respective election commission, a request to speak and express his/her opinion, make a decision on various issues, as well as enjoy other rights envisaged by this Law.  

The election subject shall have the right to appoint, withdraw and/or replace its representative at any time, except the day before the E-day and the E-day, on which the appropriate election commission shall be informed.

A Temporary Rule on Registration / Cancellation of Party Registration by the Parliament Elected as a Result of 2020 Parliamentary Elections before the Acquisition of Full Powers

(Election Code of Georgia, Article 197)

In order to be eligible to participate in the parliamentary elections of Georgia, a party must apply to the CEC Chairperson with an appropriate statement signed by its head (heads):

• After the Parliamentary Elections are called, but no later than on the 57^th day before the Election Day, if, by the day of calling elections, the party has a member of parliament elected by its nomination. 

• From January 1 until July 15 of the parliamentary election year, if it does not meet the above mentioned conditions.

• Along with the application, an extract/note from the registry of political unions of citizens (parties) issued by the LEPL National Agency of Public Registry operating under the governance of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia should be attached. The document should be issued during the past 10 days before submitting it at the CEC and should indicate the head/ authorized representatives of the party. Also a document proving the party has a representative in the Parliament of Georgia (in case the party has such representatives) should be submitted. At the time of registering the party, the LEPL National Agency of Public Registry operating under the governance of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia should ensure the access of the CEC to the electronic database in order to ensure the CEC have possibility to verify the authenticity of the document issued by the agency.
  
  

The application shall include the following information about the party:

• name of the party and, if applicable, its short version and/or abbreviated name under which the party participates in elections; Additionally, the name and surname of no more than 3 leaders of the party may be indicated or only the surname. The registration name will be unchanged on the ballot paper;

• last name, first name, address (according to the place of registration), telephone number and the sample of signature of the party leader(s);

• last name, first name, address (according to the place of registration), telephone number of the party representative;

• if there are several leaders - the limits of authority of each leader in relation to the electoral process.
  
  

The title and/or short title, of the party, shall not coincide with:  

• the official title, short title or abbreviated title, of another party registered by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia (if the titles coincide, the party shall not be permitted to use this name);

• the title, short title or abbreviated title, of an election bloc participating in the elections, if the application of this bloc was filed at the CEC earlier (if the names coincide the party will not be permitted to use this name);

• the title, short title or abbreviated name, used by another party/election bloc in the last parliamentary elections, unless the consent of that party/election bloc is available;

The parties registered by the CEC Chairperson have the right to establish an election bloc and to leave an election bloc. To register the election bloc, an application signed by the authorized leaders of all parties constituting the bloc, and the election bloc charter, shall be submitted to the CEC no later than the 43rd day before the regular Election Day.

The following have the right to nominate candidates for the membership of the Parliament of Georgia in the majoritarian electoral district: A party running independently in elections; election bloc and 5-member initiative group of voters.

An independent party / election bloc participating in the elections have the right in each electoral district, while initiative group of voters shall nominate one candidate for the membership of the Parliament of Georgia to be elected by the majoritarian system in appropriate majoritarian electoral district. 

In order to nominate a candidate for the membership of the Parliament of Georgia, the initiative group of voters must apply to the relevant district election commission no later than the 57th day before the elections, after which, it has the right to collect the signatures of the supporting voters. If the submitted application meets the requirements established by law, no later than the next day after the submission of the application, the chairperson of the District Election Commission shall register the initiative group of voters.

Elections of local Self-government Representative Bodies

Registration of Political Parties/election blocs

In order to become eligible to run for the elections of the Local Self-government Representative Body - Sakrebulo, a party/election bloc shall apply to the CEC Chairperson through a written application signed by its head(s):

1. a) after calling of Sakrebulo elections, no later than on the 57th day before the Election Day, if it meets one of the following requirements:

a.a.) was registered duringt the last Parliamentary elections;

a.b.)  by the day of calling of elections, the party has a representative in the Parliament of Georgia;

1. b) from January 1 until July 15 of the election year of the municipal bodies, if the party/election bloc does not meet any of the above-mentioned requirements;

A party, which does not meet any of the above mentioned requirements shall, within 60 days of the acceptance of the sample form of the list of supporters, but no later than August 1, submit to the CEC a list of at least 1000 voters in favor of the party’s participation in the elections of municipal representative body –Sakrebulo, if it is a qualified election subject. If it is not a qualified election subject - at least 25,000 voters (this number shall not exceed 1% of a total number of voters). The appropriate CEC department shall verify the list of supporters in accordance with the procedures within the terms established by the Election Code of Georgia. During the election period, the appropriate CEC department, within 2 days after the submission, shall verify the list of supporters and shall present its conclusion to the CEC Chairperson.

A party, an electoral bloc, a candidate nominated by a party, an electoral bloc, and an initiative group voters composed of 5 people, registered with the respective election commission, shall be authorized to run for a Sakrebulo elections. The nomination of a candidate by an initiative group of voters shall be endorsed by the signatures of 1% of supporting voters (at least 50 voters), registered in the territory of the corresponding majoritarian electoral district. An initiative group of voters and a candidate nominated by such group shall be registered according to the requirements of Article 116 of the Election Code of Georgia - In order to nominate a candidate for MP of Georgia, an initiative group of voters shall file an application to the respective DEC not later than the 57th day before polling, after which day the initiative group of voters may start collecting signatures of supporting voters. The DEC chairperson shall, not later than the day after filing an application, register an initiative group of voters.