The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has released ‘Georgia Election Watch’, an analysis of the pre-election environment based on in-depth interviews conducted virtually from July 28 – August 4, 2020, by an NDI delegation led by President Mitchell.

Other delegation members included Georgia Country Director Alan Gillam, Interim Georgia Country Director Teona Kupunia, Director for Election Programs Patrick Merloe, and Regional Director for Eurasia Programs Laura Jewett.

The NDI report addresses issues related to the electoral framework and administration; the campaign environment; the role of media and disinformation; gender and inclusion; and the impact of COVID-19.

“The foundations for democratic elections are in place,” said NDI President Derek Mitchell. “Yet without some demonstrable improvements, a pattern of declining public confidence will continue. What is needed is the political will to place the integrity of the process over partisan interests.”

The report found that almost 30 years into independence, “Georgia has proved its technical capacity to conduct credible elections. The country has taken important steps forward to ensure greater women’s political participation and has laid out a concrete path toward fulfilling promises of a fully proportional electoral system. Citizen expectations for a democratic process are thus high.”

“Yet persistent issues related to electoral integrity have remained unaddressed, fueling polarization and detracting from public confidence in election outcomes. Concerns remain about lax or biased enforcement, abuses of state resources and prosecutorial authorities, intimidation and harassment, personalized and polarizing campaigning, continuing exclusion of underrepresented groups, and threats to the integrity of the information environment. These factors, in turn, make the country more vulnerable to external interference,” reads the report.

“In coming together to pass wide-ranging electoral reforms and safeguard public health this year, Georgians have demonstrated their ability to overcome their differences in the public interest,” said Mitchell. “Heading into elections, the country’s leaders and political actors will need to summon the similar resolve to take the steps necessary to ensure a fair, transparent and inclusive process that does justice to the will of the Georgia people.”

The NDI report makes 30 recommendations to improve Georgia’s electoral process such as enforcing all legislation and regulations respecting the elections in a timely and impartial manner, ensuring monitoring organizations’ operation and media activities without interference or intimidation and so on and so forth.

NDI has assigned experts to conduct a long-term, in-depth analysis of the themes highlighted in the report and will continue to monitor the overall election process through its conclusion.

NDI may issue further analysis and recommendations through the election period and will issue a comprehensive assessment of the overall electoral process shortly after the elections.

source: 1TV