The Situation

The shine from Georgia’s 2003 Rose Revolution has worn away over the last eight years. Encouraging reforms notwithstanding, increasing domestic political strife, a weakening of civil society, economic hardship, conflict with Russia, demonstrations and retaliations have created a sharp polarization within the country.

Electoral reforms in the run-up to the May 2010 local sakrebulo (city council) elections helped ease tension, as did the first-ever mayoral election in Tbilisi. Although deficiencies were noted, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights described the process as “evident progress” for Georgia toward meeting international standards.

Our Role

Since 1998, IFES has engaged in a series of activities aimed at strengthening the democratic process in Georgia. The goal of IFES programming is to enhance the capacity, transparency and accountability of key governmental and nongovernmental institutions involved in the conduct of elections and to promote a culture of democracy through civic education and civil society development.

Looking ahead to the forthcoming elections set to take place in 2012 (parliamentary), 2013 (presidential) and 2014 (local), IFES is working to increase public trust in the electoral process.

What We Are Doing

• Supplying technical and material support to Georgian media, election administrators, civil society organizations and educational institutions
• Providing expertise and capacity-building assistance to the Central Election Commission through trainings, roundtables, and technological modernization
• Engaging civil society organizations to improve the transparency of the electoral process through grants for media and political finance monitoring
• Creating a curriculum used to educate university students
• Conducting regional roundtables on electoral reform and engaging local stakeholders to help improve Georgia’s voter registry