The Central Election Commission (CEC) introduced a series of important decisions today aimed at streamlining the administrative process ahead of Georgia’s October 4, 2025 municipal elections. These reforms focus on easing party list submissions, clarifying documentation rules, and tightening candidate eligibility requirements.

Under the new regulations, political parties can now submit their candidate lists electronically, along with only one copy of the required documents. The process for submitting paper documentation has also been simplified, reducing the administrative burden on political unions.

“In addition, if the number of candidates on a party list exceeds the legal minimum because some withdrew their registration via personal statement, this will no longer result in the list being cancelled. This change helps prevent the unnecessary disqualification of registered party lists,” explained Giorgi Santuriani, Head of the CEC Staff/Legal Department.

The CEC also outlined specific requirements for candidates nominated in local majoritarian districts. If a candidate is running in such a district, their party list must include two photographs and a duplicate registration card. For Tbilisi City Council elections, only one copy of these materials needs to be submitted to the District Election Commission.

In a separate resolution, the CEC granted its Chairman authority to cancel a party’s registration for the upcoming elections under certain conditions. These include: failure to submit a party list, mayoral, or majoritarian candidate in any district; failure of any submitted candidates to be registered; or disqualification of all registered candidates.

Additionally, new limitations were introduced regarding party representatives. A registered party may now appoint representatives only to the CEC and to election commissions where it has valid, registered candidates.