The certification exams of the head officials of the Precinct Election Commission is being held for the first time this year. This is a novelty and echoes the electoral reform, according to which the possession of a certificate is mandatory for electing of the head officials of Precinct Election Commissions (except for the issues stipulated in the Election Code of Georgia)

LEPL Centre for Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training (the Training Centre), will administer the certification exams.

According to the decision taken at the meeting of the Central Election Commission of Georgia on September 1, 2023, the certification exams for the head officials of the Precinct Election Commission will be held in September and October 2023. A person willing to participate in the exam can register and participate in only one certification exam - in September or October.

A capable citizen of Georgia from the age of 18 can register for the certification exams.

Registration for the exam to be held in September:

Those willing to take the exam to be held in September can register remotely, in a 24-hour mode, from September 2, 10:00am through September 8, 24:00pm, 2023, at the website https://registration.cec.gov.ge/ (registration instructions are posted on the website).

Applicants can also apply to the certification exam secretariats, in the pariod of September 2 – September 8, from 10:00am to 18:00pm, except for the weekends (the addresses of the exam secretariats are given in the link - available in Georgian). Identification card or a passport of a citizen of Georgia should be presented to the secretariat in order to register.

Exams start from September 11, 2023. A citizen can take the exam at one of the exam centers operating in 16 municipalities – Mtskheta, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Sachkhere, Zestaponi, Baghdati, Tkhibuli, Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Ozurgeti, Zugdidi, Senaki, Batumi, Kobuleti, Poti, Shuakhevi (addresses of examination centers and the number of seats for admitted participants are given on the link - available in Georgian).

Registration for the exam to be held in October:

Those willing to take the exam to be held in October can register remotely, in a 24-hour mode, from October 14, 10:00am through October 20, 24:00pm, 2023, at the website https://registration.cec.gov.ge/ (registration instructions are posted on the website).

Applicants can also apply to the certification exam secretariats, in the pariod of October 14 – October 20, from 10:00am to 18:00pm, except for the weekends (the addresses of the exam secretariats are given in the link - available in Georgian).

Exams start from October 25, 2023. A citizen can take the exam at one of the exam centers operating in 8 municipalities - Tbilisi, Gori, Gurjaani, Sighnagi, Telavi, Rustavi, Bolnisi, Tetritskharo (addresses of examination centers and the number of seats for admitted participants are given on the link - available in Georgian).

Regarding the process of registration for the exam, for the attention of citizens:

Registration for the announced exams can be completed before the expiration of the respective deadline, as soon as the number of seats for the participants admitted to the exam is filled according to the exam centers.

According to the “Regulations for the Certification of Members and Head Officials of the Precinct Election Commission" (available in Georgian) approved by the CEC Decree N32/2023 of March 21, 2023, the announced certification exams do not provide the registration of those citizens who have the following information confirmed at the moment of registration for the exams:

a) after the appointment of either of the last two general elections or the last two by-elections, the citizen was an appointed member of the election commission by the election subject, election subject or a representative of the election subject;

b) the citizen has been a donor to any party since the beginning of the year of the last general election or the beginning of the year of the last by-elections;

c) citizen was released from his position in the Election Administration of Georgia by the election commission or the court due to the violation of the election legislation of Georgia, - within 4 years from the date of disposal;

d) the citizen was recognized by the court as an administrative offender due to the violation of the election legislation of Georgia, - within 4 years after the entry into legal force of the court decision.

Publicity of the certification exam:

Representatives of accredited local NGOs and international organizations will be admitted as observers at the exam in order to ensure publicity of the exam.

Accreditation for the exam to be held in September is possible remotely: in a 24-hour mode, from September 2, 10:00am to September 8, 24:00pm, sending application (available in Georgian) at the email: centre@electionreforms.ge, also, in the respective examination centers through the secretariat: through the period of September 2 – September 8, from 10:00an to 18:00pm, except for the weekends.

Accreditation for the exam to be held in October is possible remotely: in a 24-hour mode, from October 14, 10:00am to October 20, 24:00pm, sending application (available in Georgian) at the email: centre@electionreforms.ge, also, in the respective examination centers through the secretariat: through the period of October 14 – October 20, from 10:00an to 18:00pm, except for the weekends.

The procedure for conducting the certification exam:

The certification exam is conducted via the method of electronic testing. Duration of the exam is one hour. 24 tests will be selected automatically in electronic program by the random mode for each participant, the correct answer for each test is evaluated with 1 point. To receive a positive evaluation, the examinee must score 15 points. The validity period of the certificate is determined by the period of 5 years after passing the exam.

The examination tests for the certification of head officials of the Precinct Election Commission were published on the websites of the CEC and the Training Centre on May 25, 2023 and are still available on the link (available in Georgian).

For additional information call: 2 62 21 11 (17)