On August 10-11, 2020, as part of the United Nations Association of Georgia Program for Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness (PITA), the Training of Trainers (TOT) on the Informational Course for Young Voters was held in partnership between the Central Election Commission of Georgia and the Center of Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training.

18 representatives from 14 youth centers operating as part of the PITA program from 13 municipalities took part in the training. The trained youth, during 3 months, will provide information to young voters in various municipalities and villages of Georgia (including, municipalities with compact ethnic minority settlements) about important election related topics, such as: the essence of elections; elective bodies in Georgia (main updates around the electoral system for the Parliament of Georgia October 31, 2020 Elections); the principles for holding democratic elections; the importance of voter participation in elections and exercising electoral rights; organizing elections during COVID-19; the prevention of disinformation in elections – accessible channels of communication between the election administration and citizens.

Tamar Zhvania, the CEC Chair, and Lasha Jugheli, PITA Program Leader, addressed the training participant youth. “We are happy for the cooperation with the UN Association of Georgia as part of this Project, since the engagement of youth, their participation in the 2020 Parliamentary Elections is very important and I believe that this training, education will contribute to knowledge and information based participation in elections, which, naturally, is crucial for the country’s future development and democratic advancement” – Tamar Zhvania stated.

The TOT for youth was delivered by the CEC Training Center employees. The program was implemented with financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).