Registration of International Observers (Organic Law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia”, – article 39, 40)

An international observer organization shall be a representative of another state, an organization registered in another state or an international organization whose statute or another founding document envisages monitoring of the election and/or protection of human rights and the activity of which is based on the following internationally acknowledged principles:

• Respect the legislation and sovereignty of Georgia and international norms of human rights;
• Avoid hindering the election process;
• Political impartiality;
• Financial independence from participants of elections and transparency of financial sources;
• Adherence to the provisions acknowledged by the principles of international observation. 

An international observer organization shall be registered by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia. An international observer organization observes elections through its representatives – international observers.

To be registered, the international organization shall submit an application letter to the CEC requesting registration no later than on the 7th day before the polling day (October 24 - 18:00 PM).

The international organization shall submit a copy of its founding document to the CEC.

If an observer (a group of observers) is a representative of another state, he/she shall provide only application.

The CEC shall decide on the registration of the organization, observer (a group of observers) within 5 days of the submission of the application but no later than the 4th day (October 27) before the polling day.

The CEC is authorized to request additional information from the organization during registration process that may confirm the compliance of activities of the organization with internationally recognized principles of paragraph 5 of article 39, organic law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia”.

An international observer organization registered by the CEC shall submit information about the observers and copies of their identity documents to the CEC secretary no later than the 2nd day before the poling day (October 29 - 18:00).

The international observer can be accompanied by an interpreter, who shall be registered at the CEC together with the observer. If the observers are accompanied by the interpreters, the international organization shall submit their list to the CEC as well.

Registered international observer organizations shall appoint their observers through online mode as well, in the Election Process Management System (EPMS) administered by the Election Administration (EA).

After submitting the application for registration and issuing the relevant ordinance on registration, international observer organizations are provided with unique name (user) and password. Electronic space will be opened for them and international observer organizations will be able to carry out relevant procedures (appointing/withdrawing observers). In addition, they will have an opportunity to receive updates electronically, download necessary electoral documentation and legal acts.  

One organization has the right to have no more than 2 international observers at the same time at election precinct.

The Secretary of the Election Commission is obliged to register the submitted observer, in compliance with the requirements of the Election Code, no later than the 2nd day after the submission of the list of observers and to hand over the observer's certificate to the observer organization, which, at the same time, is a badge.

Rights of the International Observers

Observer is entitled to:

• Attend and observe sessions of the election commission;
• Be present at the polling place at any time during polling day, unrestrictedly move within the precinct territory and observe all stages of the polling process from any point of the precinct in a free and unhindered manner;
• Replace another registered representative (if any) of the nominating organization at any time on the polling day;
• Take part in the inspection of ballot boxes before they are sealed and after they are opened;
• Observe registration of voters in the lists of voters, issuance of ballot papers and special envelopes and their certification without disrupting the polling process;
• Observe the process of registration of complaints on the polling day;
• Attend the procedures of counting votes and summarizing results;
• Observe the process of mobile voting;
• Observe the vote counting under such conditions in which ballot papers may be visible;
• Observe the process of compiling summary protocols of election results and other documents by the election commission;
• Request a voter to show how many ballot papers and special envelopes he/she holds;
• Observe the ballot box, the placing of special envelopes into the ballot box, the opening of ballot boxes, the counting of ballot papers, and the drawing up of protocols;
• Review the summary protocols of polling and election results drawn up by election commissions, request and receive the copies of such protocols from the relevant election commission.

An observer shall not be entitled to:

• Interfere with the duties and activities of an election commission;
• Exert an undue influence upon the free expression of will of voters; 
• Agitate the voter in favor of or against any election subject;
• Wear symbols and signs of any electoral subject;
• Be without a badge at the polling premises on the polling day;
• Breach other requirements of the organic law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia”. 

Election commission shall provide all conditions for the observer to implement his/her authority regarding all procedures within the election commission, including the process of counting of ballots and summarizing of the results.

In the case of hindering operations of the commission and violation of the order, Election Commission shall be authorized to make a decision on removing the international observer from the polling place in which the Commission is located.

The registration application and all necessary documentation can be submitted via the following e-mail: [email protected] or submit an application to the CEC Chancellery (№138, Davit Aghmashenebli Alley)

For additional information please contact us:

2510051/127

2510051/151