As Georgia approaches parliamentary elections in October 2020, it must account for aglobal pandemic and significant recent changes to the electoral framework, which are expected to influencecampaigns, election procedures, voter behavior, and the composition of the next legislature, - stated in the NDI.

According to NDI President Derek Mitchell, there is a solid basis for holding democratic elections in Georgia.

"The foundations for democratic elections are in place. Yet without somedemonstrable improvements, a pattern of declining public confidence will continue. What is needed is thepolitical will to place the integrity of the process over partisan interests", - said Mitchell.

NDI today released Georgia Election Watch, an analysis of the pre-election environment based on in-depthinterviews conducted virtually from July 28 - August 4, 2020, by an NDI delegation led by PresidentMitchell. Other delegation members included Georgia Country Director Alan Gillam, Senior ProgramManager Teona Kupunia, Director for Election Programs Patrick Merloe, and Regional Director for EurasiaPrograms Laura Jewett.

The NDI report addresses issues related to the electoral framework and administration; the campaignenvironment; the role of media and disinformation; gender and inclusion; and the impact of covid-19. TheNDI delegation spoke with representatives of the Georgian government, political parties, Central ElectionCommission, civil society organizations (CSOs), the media, domestic observer organizations, andinternational diplomatic community. The NDI report also benefited from ongoing interaction between theInstitute’s Tbilisi office and a full range of electoral stakeholders based on relationships developed over 25years of NDI programming in Georgia.

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

"Yet persistent issues related to electoral integrity have remained unaddressed, fueling polarization anddetracting from public confidence in election outcomes. Concerns remain about lax or biased enforcement,abuses of state resources and prosecutorial authorities, intimidation and harassment, personalized andpolarizing campaigning, continuing exclusion of underrepresented groups, and threats to the integrity of theinformation environment. These factors in turn make the country more vulnerable to external interference", - stated in the NDI.

"In coming together to pass wide-ranging electoral reforms and safeguard public health this year, Georgianshave demonstrated their ability to overcome their differences in the public interest. Headinginto elections, the country’s leaders and political actors will need to summon similar resolve to take the stepsnecessary to ensure a fair, transparent and inclusive process that does justice to the will of the Georgiapeople", - noted Derek Mitchell.

The NDI report provides 30 recommendations for improving Georgia's electoral system, which include the following:

"Authorities from the Central Election Commission, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice,Inter-Agency Commission for Free and Fair Elections (IACFF), State Audit Office (SAO), and othergovernment entities with electoral responsibilities should rigorously enforce all legislation andregulations respecting the elections in a timely and impartial manner.

Credible citizen election monitors should be allowed to do their work, in compliance with theDeclaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by CitizenOrganizations, without interference or intimidation.

Political parties and candidates should develop policy platforms focused on solutions to issues thatconcern citizens. Campaigns should refrain from speech that inhibits pre- or post-election cross-partycooperation or seeks to denigrate public confidence in the process.

Parties should develop inclusive issue-based campaign programs that address concerns ofunderrepresented groups, including women, LGBTQI communities, people with disabilities, andethnic and religious minorities, and integrate them into their internal operations, including ascandidates. In their campaign communications, parties and candidates should consider issuingstatements in support of equality and anti-discrimination.

Media outlets and journalists should be allowed to perform their legitimate functions and exercisetheir rights, in keeping with journalistic ethics, without government interference, harassment, orarbitrary, undue or overly burdensome restrictions. Authorities should scrupulously avoid threats orsteps that could be seen as politically motivated interference in media independence, includingprosecutions of media owners or imposition of “special managers” at telecommunications companies.

Facebook, YouTube and other online platforms should cooperate closely with Georgian CSOs tomitigate information manipulation. Facebook should urgently address issues raised by Georgian CSOsrelated to identification, removal, and notification of social media consumers about coordinatedinauthentic behavior; prohibiting micro-targeting; and improving fact-checking labels".

The NDI will also have long-term analysts in the pre-election period who will explore the key topics presented in this report in depth throughout the election process.

"NDI has assigned experts to conduct long-term, in-depth analysis of the themes highlighted in the report andwill continue to monitor the overall election process through its conclusion. NDI may issue further analysisand recommendations through the election period and will issue a comprehensive assessment of the overallelectoral process shortly after the elections", - reads the statement.