On 19 August, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) published their report on the pre-election environment in Georgia. The report addressed 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 NDI delegation spoke with representatives of the Georgian government, political parties, the Central Election Commission, civil society organizations (CSOs), the media, domestic observer organizations and the international diplomatic community. 

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, fuelling polarisation and detracting from public confidence in election outcomes. Concerns remain about lax or biased law enforcement, abuses of state resources and prosecutorial authorities, intimidation and harassment, personalised and polarising 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. 

"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." 

In order to foster those improvements, the NDI gave the following recommendations:

1)   That government entities with electoral responsibilities should rigorously enforce all legislation and regulations respecting the elections in a timely and impartial manner; 

2)  That credible citizen election monitors should be allowed to do their work, in compliance with the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organisations, without interference or intimidation.  

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

4)  Parties should develop issue-based campaign programs that address concerns of underrepresented groups, including women, LGBTQI+ communities, people with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities, and integrate them into their internal operations, including as candidates. 

5)  Media outlets and journalists should be allowed to perform their legitimate functions and exercise their rights, in keeping with journalistic ethics, without government interference, harassment, or arbitrary, undue or overly burdensome restrictions.

6)  Facebook, YouTube and other online platforms should cooperate closely with Georgian CSO’s to mitigate information manipulation.