In order to support the equal election environment for persons with disabilities a special working group is created at the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia. The group unites the CEC members, representatives of the CEC structural units, international and local NGOs and representatives of various state agencies. The CEC Coordination, Planning and Reporting Department ensures the coordinated work of the group. The activities of the group are guided by the regulations approved by the CEC Chairperson for the group working on persons with disabilities.

The CEC Annual Action Plan envisages activities to be implemented for the persons with disabilities.

Informing Voters with Disabilities

• CEC ensures preparing the information video clip on services suggested to the voters with disabilities; 
• All video clips prepared by the CEC is accompanied with the sign language for the voters with hearing impairments;
• CEC webpage is adapted for blind voters and voters with visual impairments;
• Deaf voters and voters with hearing impairments are able to receive information on electoral issues in sign language through video call at the CEC Information Center
• On E-day news briefings will be available in sign language for deaf voters and voters with hearing impairments
• During the election period the map with indicated adapted election precincts is placed in the banner “Election Map” of the CEC official web-page (https://map.cec.gov.ge/)

The following is available for the persons with disabilities during the E-day:

• Tactile ballot guide at all election precincts for blind voter; 
• Two magnifying sheets at each election precinct for voters with vision impairments;
• Special ballot booths at the identified election precincts for the voters using wheelchairs;
• Poster about the voting procedures for deaf voters and the voters with hearing impairments;
• Poster describing the voting procedures for the voters in need of psychosocial assistance. 

Information on adapted election precincts created for October 21, 2017 Municipal Elections will be available in the nearest days. 

According to the paragraph a.c of article 3, of organic law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia”, a citizen of Georgia who is placed in a penitentiary institution under a court judgment, except for persons having committed a crime of little gravity; and a beneficiary of support if he/she is placed at an inpatient facility under the law of Georgia on Psychiatric Assistance, shall not be qualified to participate in elections, referenda and plebiscites;

According to the paragraph 1¹ of Article 58, of organic law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia”, if an appropriate building is available, the building for an election precinct shall be accessible for every voter, and where such building is not available, the building allocated for the election precinct shall, where possible, be adapted by the allocating body for the polling day to ensure accessibility for every voter.

According to the paragraph 2 of article 63 of organic law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia”, for electoral precincts the CEC shall ensure the use of technologies that allow voters with vision disabilities to complete a ballot paper independently.

According to the Article 185¹¹ of organic law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia”, persons who were declared legally incompetent by the court before 1 April 2015 and who have been placed in an inpatient facility shall have no right to participate in elections, referenda, and plebiscites.

The CEC №20/2012 decree dated on June 21, 2012, regulates voting procedures for a category of citizens with right to vote, who cannot fulfill the voting procedures independently because of not having upper limbs.

• Does not go through the Inking verification procedure and inking procedure;
• The registrar of voters, after issuing a ballot paper (ballot papers), makes note “physical condition” in the column of unified list of voters and confirms it with his/her signature;
• In the presence of the voter, the person chosen by the voter, folds a ballot paper in a special envelope and then puts in the ballot box (except: a member of the election commission, candidate, representative of an election subject, observer and representative of the press and other mass media) and will assist the voter to fill out the ballot paper (ballot papers) in the polling booth (decree №45/2016).

In addition to the election legislature, the Election Administration fully considers the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) adopted by the United Nations on December 13, 2006 and supports implementation of the convention goals.