The Central Election Commission of Georgia (CEC) and the Center for Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training (Training Center), in accordance with the electoral reform, implemented a large-scale project of certification exams for members and head officials of the Precinct Election Commission.

The mentioned project addresses the task of staffing the precinct election commissions with qualified members. The examination process helps to verify the knowledge of the citizens regarding the legislative regulations, which are directed to the voting procedures, the technological innovations envisaged by the reform and the functions to be performed by the head officials/members of the Precinct Election Commission. In case of passing the exam, the citizen is awarded a certificate, the possession of which is mandatory in accordance with the legislation for the election of the head officials and members of the Precinct Election Commission (this requirement does not apply to the process of appointing members to the Precinct Election Commission by political parties).

Focusing on the service of citizens willing to pass the exam, the area of conducting the exams covered 34 municipalities, including 8 municipalities densely populated by ethnic minorities. A total of 37 examination centers functioned at the examination locations: Tbilisi (4 exam centers), Gurjaani, Sighnaghi, Telavi, Rustavi, Gardabani, Marneuli, Bolnisi, Tetritskaro, Mtskheta, Dusheti, Gori, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda, Ambrolauri, Tsageri, Mestia, Sachkhere, Zestafoni, Baghdati, Tkibuli , Tskaltubo, Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, Senak, Khobi, Zugdidi, Poti, Batumi, Kobuleti, Shuakhevi, Khulo.

The CEC and the Training Centre started the implementation of the certification exams project in September 2023 and conducted a total of 9 exams till July 2024:

• 5 exams - for head officials of Precinct Election Commissions (among them, 2 exams were conducted using tests translated into the languages of ethnic minorities);
• 4 exams - for the members of the Precinct Election Commission (among them, 2 exams were conducted using tests translated into the languages of ethnic minorities).

Results of profile exams:

During the course of the examination cycle, at different stages, the examinations were observed by local non-governmental organizations: International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy; Public Initiatives Association. The CEC and the Training Centre express gratitude the organizations for their involvement in the process.