Statement of Ministry of Defence on participation of Georgian military in the presidential elections

www.mod.gov.ge

The military servicemen of GAF, who are off-duty on the occasion of 27 October presidential elections of Georgia, will take part in the polls according to their place of residence. Considering that all the military personnel can not be off-duty for the elections due to the service needs and because they are away from their places of registration, they will be able to vote at 16 special polling stations at different military bases throughout the country. In agreement with and at the decision of Election Administration of Georgia the military servicemen from several military units (given their small number) are assigned to 21 different electoral districts according to their place of deployment throughout Georgia, that will enable them to vote at the military bases set up in the vicinity of polling stations. Those military servicemen of GAF who are not able to vote at their places of deployment due to the absence of the special polling stations, they will make their choice through portable ballot boxes provided by relevant district election commission. 30% of military servicemen of GAF as well as the Georgian military contingent deployed in Afghanistan will take part in the presidential elections according to the special lists. Commanders of the relevant military units created and handed them over to district election commissions within the terms defined under the law. Besides, the lists of those military in contract-based and compulsory military service were also delivered to the Central Election Commission within the set terms. The Georgian military servicemen participating in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan have already made their choice ahead of the presidential elections of Georgia. The results of polling will become known on 27 October after finishing the voting. By the support of the Ministry of Defence, the Georgian Central Election Commission arranged special polling stations there. Election administration will provide fair elections on the polling stations set up on the military units for special cases throughout Georgia. Voting process will be observed by the representative of political parties and non-governmental organizations, also accredited foreign observers. When the voting process ends, the CEC seals the  ballot box, the list of voters,  unused and spoiled bulletins that will be immediately handed over to previously defined election district selected based on a decree issued by the CEC. According to regulations, the main electoral district opens the ballot boxes from the special polling stations and mixes them with the rest of the bulletins. The ballot boxes will be unsealed after the portable and main boxes of the main polling stations are opened. The results of special and main polling stations will be drawn up in one final record. 

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