Parliament has approved the draft of the new version of the Election Code in its third and final reading. The authors and initiators of the new electoral legislation are Archil Gorduladze, Tornike Cheishvili, Aleksandre Tabatadze, Davit Matikashvili, Rati Ionatamishvili, Aluda Gudushauri, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, Guram Macharashvili, and Akaki Aladashvili.

One of the main innovations of the new electoral legislation introduced by Georgian Dream MPs is that polling stations will no longer be opened abroad for Georgian citizens residing overseas during parliamentary elections. As with municipal elections, parliamentary elections will be held only within Georgia.

According to the same draft, political parties will be authorized to nominate only party members as candidates in both parliamentary and municipal elections. The right to nominate non-party candidates will be granted exclusively to initiative groups.

The rules for photo and video recording at polling stations are being уточified. Under the draft adopted in the third reading, individuals authorized to be present in the polling station, as well as those entitled to attend sessions of election commissions, will be allowed to take photographs without audio monitoring.

Regulations concerning expulsion from polling premises on election day are also changing. A person expelled from a polling station will be prohibited from entering any other polling station, and the election administration will maintain records of such individuals.

In addition, candidate registration procedures are being simplified. Specifically, submission of a registration card will no longer be required. Currently, candidates must submit two documents for registration: a registration card and a declaration of party affiliation. Under the new draft law, candidates will only be required to complete a consent form to participate in the elections, which will include information on residency requirements and party affiliation.

Under the same draft, individuals with a criminal conviction, including those who have been sentenced to a fine by a court, will be prohibited from serving as members of election commissions.