Georgian Dream to Abolish Voting for Citizens Residing Abroad, Citing 'External Pressure'

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has announced its plan to prohibit Georgians residing abroad from participating in parliamentary and local elections. Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who announced the decision on Monday, justified the move by citing fears of "political pressure," "external interference," and "brutal informational pressure" allegedly directed at diaspora voters during the contested 2024 elections.

GD claims the measure is based on the state's constitutional obligation to ensure the expression of free will within Georgia. This decision comes despite the fact that Georgian citizens abroad reportedly voted overwhelmingly for the opposition in the 2024 elections, which saw the Georgian Dream party retain power.

Papuashvili argued that holding elections exclusively in Georgia "increases the stability of elections, reduces the influence of external players, and ensures a more adequate, informed choice." He emphasized that the citizens' right to vote remains unchanged; however, the sole condition for exercising that right will be to return to Georgia and vote once every four years. He noted that this model aligns with international standards, citing its use in countries like Ireland, Malta, Israel, and Armenia.

The change will be implemented through amendments to the electoral code. Separately, Papuashvili noted that the current code, having undergone over 100 revisions since 2011, has become complex and redundant in its structure, requiring regulation.

The move will affect a significant portion of the electorate: the elections watchdog ISFED reported that nearly 95,000 Georgian nationals abroad were registered voters in the 2024 cycle. Prior to this new prohibition, ISFED had already criticized the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for failing to adequately ensure voting access for citizens outside the country by not opening sufficient polling stations.