12:58, 21 May 2008

CEC: count of ballot papers in Georgia's polling stations matches the count of voters

Zurab Kachkachishvili, speaker of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Georgia, has assured that the number of ballot papers in polling stations is equal to the number of voters. It was his comment to the information of NGOs that certain polling stations have registered a deficit of ballot papers, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

"The point is that some voters were relocated from traditional to the so-called 'special' polling stations, where militaries should vote. In this context, several months ago, the CEC of Georgia had passed a unanimous decision to distribute the ballot papers as follows: every polling station received the count of ballot papers equal to the number of voters minus those registered at special polling stations. By the way, this decision was initiated by the opposition," Mr Kachkachishvili has stated at the briefing.

Thus, according to the CEC's spokesman, the number of polling stations is precisely reflecting the real number of voters. "We also find the demand of the opposition to increase the number of ballot papers to be unjustified," Mr Kachkachishvili has added.

Author: Edita Badasian, CK correspondent