Tamar Kordzaia, a member of the Unity National Movement, on Thursday called for the establishment of polling stations abroad to facilitate voting for Georgian citizens living in various countries.
“Wherever our immigrants requested to open polling stations, let them open! Otherwise, it will be a violation of their constitutional right,” Kordzaia said, underscoring the “urgent need for accessible voting” for Georgians overseas.
Kordzaia expressed skepticism regarding the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) willingness to prioritize the needs of citizens living abroad. “Today, the Central Election Commission makes a decision on where to open polling stations. We demand that polling stations be opened in all cities where citizens have requested them,” she asserted, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the voices of immigrants in the electoral process.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission is set to discuss the opening of 60 polling stations in 42 foreign countries for the upcoming October 26 general elections, the CEC Spokesperson Natia Ioseliani said earlier during the day.
“This marks an increase from the number of polling stations during the 2020 elections”, she claimed.
Ioseliani noted that the proposed locations will include countries that did not host polling stations in previous elections, such as the United Arab Emirates, Finland, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. She explained that polling stations can be established for a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 3,000 voters who are on consular registration.
Highlighting the struggles faced by many Georgians abroad, Kordzaia remarked, “Our immigrants did not go abroad in search of a better life; they left due to poverty and isolation. They are choosing family members from abroad, and this should be taken into account.” He called on the CEC to ensure the protection of the rights of these citizens, many of whom feel disconnected from their home country.
Current statistics reveal there were 65,508 registered voters among the Georgian diaspora.
Cities where citizens have requested polling stations include Boston, Lodz, Toronto, Antwerp, Miami, Lecce, Stuttgart, Valencia, Hamburg, and Naples. Kordzaia criticized the lack of announcements regarding the opening of polling stations, asserting that failure to accommodate these requests would further infringe upon the constitutional rights of immigrants.
“Unfortunately, I do not expect that the CEC will be guided by the interests of immigrants,” Kordzaia concluded, reflecting an alleged growing concern about the disconnect between the CEC’s decisions and the needs of Georgian citizens living abroad.
