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It Took Only 13 Seconds to Vote at Sagarejo Polling Stations

January 23, 2008

OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission published an Interim Report on the Georgian Snap Presidential Elections on January 5. Many violations are revealed in the report. Counting of the votes and compellation of final protocols was assessed as “bad” and “very bad”. Observers from the mission claim that they have witnessed how the protocols were tempered alongside many other violations. The OSCE Mission assesses that Precinct Election Commission and courts refused to discuss the filed complaints without valid legal basis.

Observation Missions from the OSCE Democratic Intuitions and Human Rights Center published the preliminary report soon after the election finished.

The election is assessed in line with the OSCE and Council of Europe Commitments and standards for democratic elections; however, significant challenges were revealed that need to be addressed urgently.”

The observers pointed out in the report that the final assessment of the elections will depend, in part, on the correct tabulation of votes and the handling of possible complaints or appeals of as well as observed violations.

The Interim Report, dated by 6-18 January, points out that the International Elections Observation Mission assessed the vote count and compellation of final protocols at 180 polling stations throughout Georgia. 23% of vote counts observed were assessed as “bad” or “very bad”.  Observers reported that in 8 % of counts observed they had witnessed tempering with results protocols. In 21 per cent of counts observed they reported significant procedural errors or omissions.

Observers described the tabulation process at the DEC level as very slow, not very well organized and often chaotic. In some DECs they noted a tense atmosphere during tabulation. There were cases in which PEC protocols given to the OSCE Observation Missions differed from those provided by DECs.

Instances were noted where DECs corrected PECs protocols. This action was taken despite the fact that the law does not explicitly envisage DEC corrections to PEC protocols and according to the Electoral Code DECs have a limited role in the vote tabulation process.

Foreign observes reported that significantly high turnout was observed at several PECs particularly to the end of the polling process.

“The CEC announced that the overall turnout was 56, 19 per cent. In several DECs the turnout was considerably higher than average.  Some 23 PECs reported 100 per cent turnout.

Based on the CEC report and the Election Observation Mission, in Sagarejo 822 voters were processed by PEC 36 in the last three hours. Thus one person managed to pass all procedures within 13 seconds,” stated the report.

The Interim Report states that voters were added to the additional voter lists through violations; their votes were not counted correctly either. “The count took place in chaotic circumstances and the counting groups did not apply uniform procedures especially when deciding on ballot validity.”

In this context the report states observers noted that a significant number of ballots from the PECs in certain DECs appeared to have been filled out in identical fashion, raising suspicion of wrongdoing.

The election administration at all levels, and the courts, did not fully and adequately consider and investigate a considerable number of complaints regarding irregularities in voting, counting and tabulation. Some complaints s included serious allegations of multiple voting, ballot stuffing and tampering with protocols. The vast majority of these complaints were submitted by opposition parties and domestic NGOs, with almost none filed by the ruling party.

“There were apparent avoidances to substantively consider complaints. The OSCE Observation Mission received accounts that law enforcement bodies, local administrations and courts actively discouraged observers and opposition supporters not to file complaints or suggested to withdraw them.

After the Election Day, some 30 cases of appeal against decisions of city and rayon courts, most of which had rejected requests for invalidation of PEC and DEC results protocols, were submitted to the Appeal Courts; All these cases either rejected or not satisfied,” stated the Interim Report.

Soon after the report was published, the opposition and governmental representatives made statements in regard to it.

“The Interim Report of the Observation Mission reveals all those violations the opposition parties complained about. The report states that election commissions at all levels and courts practically rejected all complaints. The report also mentions those facts which, I think, raise the criminal liability of the chairperson and members of the CEC,” stated Davit Usufashvili, member of the United National Council

Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of the “New Rights” thinks that the final report of the Observation Mission will supposedly be stricter.

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Settlement, Davit Bakradze, states the complaints of the opposition leaders are groundless; Bakradze was the head of Mikheil Saakashvili’s election headquarter.

“Interim Report of the Observation Mission does not make political assessments; it is similar to the preliminary report where they stated the Georgian elections were held in accordance of international standards. The Interim Report provides concrete analysis of those technical mistakes that were mentioned in the previous one. We are working on those mistakes and we intend to improve them for the up-coming Parliamentary Elections in order to conduct it at higher standard,’ said Bakradze.

International Observation Mission will publish final complete report in February.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

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