CEC: Nearly 276,000 citizens cast ballots in Georgia’s municipal elections

By 10:00 am on October 4,  275,948 citizens had cast their ballots in Georgia’s local elections, according to data released by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The figures were announced by the CEC press spokesperson, Natia Iosseliani, Georgian media reported, as cited by Caliber.Az.

Voters are electing 64 mayors of cities and districts, as well as deputies of local consultative bodies known as sakrebulos. In total, 3,130,348 Georgian citizens aged 18 and older living in the country are eligible to vote, with 3,061 polling stations open across the country.

The elections are being monitored by 28 international organisations and 27 local organisations, while more than 73 media outlets are covering the process.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze cast his ballot earlier in the day. Speaking to reporters, he expressed confidence in victory for the ruling Georgian Dream party.

“Our expectations and ratings show that the Georgian Dream will take more than 60% of the votes both in Tbilisi and in all sakrebulos (city assemblies) across the country. The opposition has no hope of winning; accordingly, its supporters are demotivated,” Kobakhidze said.

Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, who also voted on Saturday, voiced similar optimism. He said the Georgian Dream aims to secure first-round victories in the mayoral races and majorities in all city assemblies.

“We plan to win in the first round in all 64 cities and get a majority in all sakrebulos,” Papuashvili told journalists. He further accused opposition party representatives of attempting to rig the elections.

By Tamilla Hasanova