Georgia’s parliament backs election changes 79–10 at first reading

Georgia’s parliament approved amendments to the Election Code at first reading by 79 votes to 10, JAMnews said in its November 12 account. The changes are proposals, not rules in force.

The draft would shift responsibility for determining election results from district commissions to the Central Election Commission and shorten the deadline for that decision from 26 days to 15 days.

Recounts, challenges and observers

The amendments would abolish recounts to correct random errors if the errors affected no more than five polling stations. Commission protocols could be challenged in court only under conditions specified by law.

Decisions on registering election observers would also move from the commission itself to its chairperson. The amendments have passed only their first reading and would need to become law before those changes take effect.