On 3-4 June 2024, representatives of the Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France to discuss the modernisation of electoral processes, associated challenges, and steps forward.

Considering that the Reykjavik Declaration renewed the commitment of the Council of Europe member States to uphold free and fair elections and ensure elections and referenda are held in accordance with international standards, the study visit participants explored topics related to: appropriate measures that are to be taken against any interference in electoral systems and processes; new voting procedures and voting technology are grounded in respect for relevant human rights standards; securing freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association as means for ensuring a competitive and healthy electoral environment. Additionally, the participants explored effective mechanisms to counter hate speech and disinformation in electoral processes and the role of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies, in particularly the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Regional and Local Authorities.

With Georgia's upcoming Parliamentary Elections on 26 October set to incorporate new information and communication technology (ICT) nationwide, the study visit  focused on the international standards of ICT use in electoral processes.

The Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, Mr Giorgi Kalandarishvili, Secretary of the Central Election Commission, Mr Giorgi Javakishvili, alongside with heads of departments engaged in fruitful exchanges with the Council of Europe representatives. Participants discussed respective policy and legal instruments of the organisation, as well as good practices of its member states. The visit also included contributions from representatives of the European Court of Human Rights, including the Georgian judge of the Court, Mr Lado Chanturia, who provided insights on the Court’s case law on electoral matters.

The study visit provided an effective platform for analyzing practical experiences and  sharing potential solutions for better alignment of Georgia’s domestic electoral processes with European standards, particularly in the context of ICT and elections. 

The event was organised as part of the Council of Europe Project “Supporting Transparency, Inclusiveness and Integrity of Electoral Practice and Process in Georgia.” The Project is funded through the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.