Georgia plans voting overhaul: Only in-country ballots to be allowed

Elections must take place where the authority of the state is fully upheld, and voters must have access to complete and reliable information about domestic developments in order to make an informed choice between political forces, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said, according to Georgian media cited by Caliber.Az.

Under the proposed amendments, Georgian citizens residing abroad will only be allowed to vote after returning to Georgia and casting their ballots at their registered address.

“Of course, every one of our compatriots living abroad retains the right to vote, but it is essential that they come to the country—even if only for a single day—see the situation firsthand, and then make a more conscious, genuinely informed decision,” Kobakhidze stated.

He added that votes cast abroad have generally not had a decisive impact on election outcomes in Georgia. The motivation behind the proposed changes, he explained, is to reinforce Georgia’s sovereignty and independence.

In this context, Kobakhidze pointed out that citizens living abroad are subject to foreign jurisdictions, which may influence them in various ways. According to him, there have been instances in which foreign states attempted to interfere in Georgia’s electoral processes, making citizens overseas more susceptible to external pressure.

“Given these conditions, people living abroad naturally become even more vulnerable to such influence. Therefore, the overall principle should be that elections are held where the full jurisdiction of our state operates,” he emphasized.

The prime minister also underscored a second, “even more important,” rationale for the reforms: ensuring that voters are well-informed. He argued that citizens must have complete and objective knowledge of events inside the country to make a meaningful political choice.

He stressed that all information—“whether coming through the media, social networks, or even from family members—is filtered and interpreted” before reaching individuals.

By Tamilla Hasanova