Author: Tinatin Japaridze, Eurasian Security and Geopolitical Risk-Eurasia Group Analyst

A quarter of Georgia's population, the majority of whom emigrated between 2010 and 2020, are currently living and working abroad, frequently far from major urban centers. As it stands, members of our expat communities are only able to vote at Georgian consular polling stations, a limitation that disenfranchises many and effectively prevents them from participating in the voting process. To address this gap and respond to the countless petitions submitted to the CEC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from immigrants, the opposition launched a “Ballot Box in Your City” campaign that encourages Georgian expats to advocate for the creation of voting centers in over 40 cities lacking embassies or consulates. This movement received endorsement last year from President Salome Zourabichvili and various Georgian civil society organizations (CSOs), yet the Foreign Ministry has downplayed the need to expand voting station accessibility. According to the latest estimates, there are more than one million Georgian nationals residing abroad. Their electoral engagement could significantly sway the outcome of the decisive 26 October election. Opposition politicians continue to urge the CEC and the MFA to  remove hurdles to voting for these individuals, underscoring that unimpeded voting rights are essential to democracy -- a fundamental right of every individual. Last month, Levan Davitashvili, who serves as both the Georgian Minister of Economy and the First Deputy PM, pledged that the electoral environment in the country would be "as transparent as possible" and that the elections will be held "at a high standard." Hopefully, every Georgian citizen, whether they are currently residing at home or abroad, will be able to participate without any barriers in deciding their country's fate through a fully transparent and democratic electoral process. (That said, it’s highly improbable that the Georgian government will change its position on opening additional polling sites outside of the country, if nothing else, out of fear of increasing the chances for the opposing camp.)