Election Commission reminds parties of procedures for municipal election participation, ballot number allocation

The Central Election Commission of Georgia on Wednesday reminded political parties about the procedures required to participate in the upcoming municipal elections and to obtain an official ballot number.

“The regular elections of the municipal representative body – the City/Municipality Council – and the Mayor of a self-governing city/self-governing municipality will be held on October 4, 2025, which is the first Saturday of October”, the statement said.

The Central Election Commission calls on political parties interested in participating in the municipal elections to timely complete the necessary procedures to acquire this right.

As a reminder, according to Article 142, Paragraph 1 of the Organic Law of Georgia – Election Code of Georgia, in order to obtain the right to participate in elections, the head(s) of the party must submit an application to the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission:

• After the municipal elections are officially announced, but no later than the 57th day before election day, if the party was registered during the last parliamentary elections or currently has a representative in the Parliament of Georgia;
• If the party does not meet either of the above criteria, then between January 1 and July 14 of the election year, it may still apply. Upon submission of the application, the party will receive a sample supporter list form. The party is required to submit a list of at least 25,000 voters supporting the party’s participation in the municipal (Sakrebulo) elections to the Central Election Commission within 60 days of receiving the form, but no later than August 1.
• The Commission will verify the supporter list in accordance with the procedure and timeline established by Article 38 of the Election Code.
• The application must also be accompanied by an extract from the Register of Political Unions (Parties) issued by the National Agency of Public Registry – a legal entity under public law operating within the Ministry of Justice of Georgia – not more than 10 days before submitting the application to the Central Election Commission. This extract must indicate the person(s) authorized to represent or manage the party.

Additionally, we remind you that in accordance with Article 38[1] of the Election Code of Georgia, to request a ballot number, an authorized representative of a political union must submit an application to the Central Election Commission no later than July 17 of the current year.

If a political union does not exercise this right and fails to submit an application for a ballot number, the number will be assigned by drawing lots, no later than 55 days before the election.