The Central Election Commission of Georgia (CEC) hosted the 7^th Annual Meeting of Election Management Bodies.

The main theme of the meeting was “Innovative Services and Effective Electoral Procedures”. Representatives of EMBs of various countries, international organizations and vendor companies oriented on electoral technologies participated in the event.

Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, Tamar Zhvania, the CEC Chairperson, Matt Gokhool, Chief Executive of the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) and Michael Svetlik, Senior Vice President for Programs, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) made opening remarks at the meeting.

Tamar Zhvania, the CEC Chairperson talked about the activities implemented by Georgian Election Administration (EA) including innovative services offered by the EA to voters during 2016 Parliamentary Elections.

During two day meeting, participants discussed the following topics: technologies and elections – good practice and lessons learned, innovative services, European standards applicable to innovative services in electoral processes and electronic management of election administration etc.

7^th annual meeting was held in Borjomi at “Crowne Plaza” on February 27-28. 94 representatives of 20 EMBs and 11 international organizations as well as representatives of the US Embassy and three vendor companies oriented on electoral technologies participated in the event.

The Central Election Commission of Georgia organized the meeting in close cooperation and support with the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

The meeting between the representatives of the EMBs is held annually; representatives of EMBs discuss exceedingly important topics and share good practices. Over the years, electoral dispute resolution, involvement of stakeholders and effective communications, inclusive elections and electoral integrity were discussed at the past annual meetings.

Countries participating in the meeting:

Albania, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, India, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Republic of Maldives, Pakistan, Romania, Georgia, South Korea, Ukraine, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.

International Organizations participating in the meeting:

International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS), Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO), Council of Europe (CoE), Venice Commission, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), International Republican Institute (IRI), National Democratic Institute (NDI), Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the US Embassy in Georgia and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Vendor companies oriented on electoral technologies

Emperor Technology, A. Daga Steel & Industrial Corporation, Copenhagen Election A/S.

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