A new project of the Election Administration (EA) of Georgia – Nationwide Demonstration of Voting Technologies – is being successfully conducted. The project has been in progress for two weeks, and it is noteworthy, that the citizens of Georgia are actively engaging in it. Registration for participating in a simulation of voting has been completed by approximately 58 000 individuals.

The EA’s new project allows each interested individual to choose one of the 89 locations throughout Georgia, and take part in a simulation of voting on each Saturday and Sunday of July to witness how the electronic voting devices function in practice. The nationwide demonstration of voting technologies aims at providing information to voters about the introduction of electronic technologies into electoral processes as well as improving their practical skills regarding casting their votes, since nearly 90% of voters will cast their vote for the October 26, 204 Parliamentary Elections by using those electronic devices.

Aiming at providing information to voters and stakeholders about the voting technologies, the EA has been conducting its large-scale information campaign. The demonstration of voting technologies stands as a part of this campaign.

Similar to all efforts of the EA of Georgia, information regarding the activities implemented in the area of providing information to voters and educating them is public and available, including the information regarding the demonstration of electronic technologies, that allows each interested individual to participate in it. However, unfortunately, during the project, several cases have been identified, when representatives of the stakeholders required their constant presence at the mock electoral precincts. Those facts were followed by false assessments regarding prohibition of their presence to observe the process.

We would like to emphasize that the election period has not commenced yet. Accordingly, for the time being, the articles of the relevant legislation, empowering the stakeholders with certain rights and responsibilities, are not applicable. In the meantime, the project has informative and learning character. Thus, it is impossible for it to become an object of both observation and process. Hereby, important fact is that each stakeholder has an opportunity to personally participate in a simulation of voting and firsthand experience the functioning of technologies.

We would like to remind you that the project ‘Nationwide Demonstration of Voting Technologies’ is being organized at the preliminarily defined 89 locations throughout Georgia, namely Tbilisi and the administrative centers of municipalities of the regions of Georgia. The project is scheduled to be completed at the end of July.