Education program “Electoral Development School” of the Central Election Commission (CEC) “is complete. Participants having undergone study course in Tbilisi were awarded certificate by Giorgi Kalandarishvili, CEC’s Chair himself. Additionally, Chair spoke with graduates about the importance of youth engagement in the electoral process. 

“Having active youth and their engagement in the electoral process is strategically important not only for the administration, but for country, at large. We suggest various projects to young people that aims to increase the level of electoral culture. I want to thank you for your participation in the project and engagement you have displayed over the past 5-days”, Giorgi Kalandarishvili said during this meeting with the young people. 

Study course was launched on 4th of July in Tbilisi, Telavi, Rustavi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, and Batumi. Young people aged 18-25 received information about important topics such as electoral systems, election administration, 1919 constituent assembly elections, democratic electoral principles, elected bodies in Georgia, electoral stakeholders, transparency and accessibility of elections, gender equality, voting and vote-counting devices, disinformation and spread of fake news in the electoral period.

Additionally, participants undertook preparatory training program for the election administration official’s exam elaborated by the Training Centre, which is based on election legislation, Constitution of Georgia, thematic discussion of exam program, and practical assignments. 

Education project “Electoral Development School” is being implemented together with CEC’s Training Centre and with the support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The project aims at supporting citizen engagement and popularization of elections among youth. The study course is being run since 2015, and around 3000 young people have undergone it.