The Election Administration (EA) of Georgia is exploring best international practices while introducing electronic technologies into the election process. As a result of the very aim, representatives from the administration led by the Chairperson participated in the study visit to Albania, organized by the Council of Europe Office in Georgia.

During the visit, the delegation held meetings with the heads and representatives of structural units from the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Albania. The parties discussed important topics such as electoral systems of both countries, structure of election administration, application of information technologies in the management of elections, election legislation and its enforcement, special characteristics of technology for electronically voting and vote counting, publication of results, raising awareness campaigns, educating voters, role of media, prevention and responding mechanisms for tackling disinformation. During the meeting, representatives of the CEC of Albania showcased the devices, which they apply in the verification, voting and vote counting processes.

In addition, the delegation of the CEC of Georgia met with the representatives of non-governmental organizations which shared insights about the outcomes of their observation pertaining to the introduction of electronic technologies in elections; and expressed their keen interest in Georgia’s experience.

During his visit to Albania, Chairperson of the CEC of Georgia, Giorgi Kalandarishvili took part in the international conference titled ‘Digital Solutions in Electoral Processes - Cybersecurity and Institutional Cooperation Perspectives’, jointly organized by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Albania, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and the Finnish Rule of Law Centre, and highlighted the important technological reformative steps which the Election Administration of Georgia gradually undertook from 2018 to 2023. Furthermore, he provided comprehensive information about the preparatory process for the 2024 Parliamentary elections and planned activities in this regard.

Albania holds a long-standing experience in regard with the application of electronic technologies in electoral processes. Therefore, sharing its experience is of utmost importance for the EA of Georgia at the current stage of implementing election reform. Such meetings and sharing practices ensure that prevention of errors and proper administration of process while electronic technologies are applied at a large scale.

Central Election Commissions of Albania and Georgia maintain close cooperation. On April 28 of this year, the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was signed between the CEC of Albania and the EA of Georgia which envisages sharing information and expertise in the field of the application of electronic technologies in electoral process. From July 4 to July 6, study visit implemented in the capital of Albania, Tirana, is a genuine response of the memorandum. Representatives of the Strategic Communications Department and Legal Department of the CEC of Georgia as well as representatives from the Training Center and the Council of Europe took part in the working meetings held during the visit.

The study visit was organized and financially supported by the Council of Europe Office in Georgia.

The EA of Georgia plans to organize study visits to other countries that have similar experiences with the aim to learn their best practices related to the application of electronic technologies in electoral processes.