Training of trainers (ToT) of the project “Electoral Development School” is being conducted at the Central Election Commission of Georgia (CEC). Four-day learning course is being held for those District Election Commission (DEC) members, who will implement the learning course of the project.

It is the fourth year, the Election Administration of Georgia implements the “Electoral Development School”. Within the frames of the project, youth will undergo training course for 10 days.

Trainers are prepared for the above-mentioned course and discuss important topics including: gender equality, institutional arrangements of state, forms of democracy, referendum and plebiscite, legislative regulation of elections, European Parliament, models of Election Administration, electoral stakeholders, and history of elections in Georgia. Representatives of the CEC Training Center conduct ToT.

It should be underlined, that this year, for the first time, an extensive part of the first Democratic Elections in Georgia was added to the learning course modules. Irakli Iremadze, Head of the Center of Georgian Democratic Republic of Tbilisi State University talks to the ToT participants about the 1919 Constituent Assembly Elections. 

CEC Chairperson and Director of the CEC Training Center made opening remarks at the training. Tamar Zhvania talked about the importance of the learning course and highlighted those innovations the Election Administration suggests to the project participants.

“Electoral Development School” will commence on July 16. The learning course will be implemented in Tbilisi and 23 municipalities (Gurjaani, Sighnaghi, Telavi, Akhmeta, Rustavi, Gardabani, Marneuli, Dusheti, Gori, Akhalgori (Tserovani, IDPs settlement), Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Ambrolauri, Sachkhere, Zestaphoni, Kutaisi, Samtredia, Ozurgeti, Senaki, Zugdidi, Poti, Batumi and Kobuleti). Young people aged to 18-24 will be able to undergo learning course on electoral issues and receive relevant knowledge on the respective field. The project aims at promoting elections through increasing civic participation and promoting elections among youth.

The project is being implemented by the support of the Council of Europe (CoE) and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). ToT was launched on July 3-6.