Irakli Kirtskhalia: Voter turnout is high across all polling stations

Voter turnout in Georgia’s municipal by-elections remains high, with voting proceeding peacefully across all seven polling stations, parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia said on Saturday.

By-elections are being held in four municipalities Akhmeta, Dmanisi, Tsalka and Vani to elect four majoritarian members of the respective municipal councils.

Speaking at a briefing at the Georgian Dream party’s Gorgasali office, Kirtskhalia called on voters to remain active and said no significant disruptions had been reported.

“Polling stations are open in the village of Kasristskali in Akhmeta; in the villages of Velispiri and Ganakhleba in Dmanisi; in the villages of Imera, Bareti, Sabechisi and Livadi in Tsalka; and in the village of Pereta in Vani,” Kirtskhalia said.

A total of seven polling stations have been operating across the four electoral districts since the morning, including four in Tsalka.

Voting at three polling stations in Tsalka and one in Vani is being conducted using electronic voter verification and vote-counting machines, while traditional voting procedures are being used at the remaining polling stations.

According to figures released as of 17:00, turnout stood at 39% in Akhmeta, 50% in Dmanisi, 37% in Tsalka and 57% in Vani.

“Polling stations will close at 20:00. As always, we encourage voters to be as active as possible, although the figures show that turnout is already quite high across the board. The electoral process is proceeding peacefully at all seven polling stations,” Kirtskhalia said.