---
title: "Voting Rights"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/voting-rights-en"
field: "International Law"
description: "Voting rights under the Georgian Electoral Code: voter lists, the voter card, polling day complaints and appeals. Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-06-24"
updated: "2026-10-14"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Voting Rights

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/voting-rights-en

## The Basic Principles of Electoral Rights

Voting rights in Georgia are governed by the Electoral Code, whose Article 3 sets out the basic principles for holding elections, referenda and plebiscites. Active suffrage belongs to every citizen of Georgia who, before or on the day of the election, has turned or turns 18 years old and meets the conditions established by the Code. Voters participate on an equal basis, and every voter of the same electoral district has an equal number of votes. Elections in Georgia are direct: members of Parliament, members of sakrebulo and mayors are elected directly by voters, while the President is elected by an electoral college through an open ballot without debate. Voting is secret; the coercion, intimidation of a voter or violation of the secrecy of the vote is prohibited and triggers criminal liability of the offender. These foundations make the electoral process transparent and equal for every participant.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/voting-rights-en

### Who elects the President of Georgia?

Under Article 3 of the Code, the President is elected by an electoral college through an open ballot without debate.

### Is pressure on voters prohibited?

Yes. Coercion, intimidation of a voter and violation of the secrecy of the vote are prohibited and trigger criminal liability.

### Can the lists be changed before an election?

Changes are prohibited during the last 12 days before election day except in cases provided by the Code; in a defined period a change requires a court decision.

### What must a polling day complaint contain?

The essence and time of the violation, the applicant's data, the precinct number and other material information, since a defective complaint may be left unconsidered.