Georgian Officials Vote On Election Day

TBILISI - Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and President Giorgi Margvelashvili cast their votes early Saturday in he country's hotly contested parliamentary elections.

"I voted for Georgia's future ... For the stable, democratic development of our country and greater welfare for each citizen and Georgia's European path," Kvirikashvili said at a polling station in central Tbilisi, where he arrived with members of his family.

Margvelashvili later cast his vote in Tbilisi's historic Mtatsminda district and took the time to urge all Georgian citizens to participate in the elections.

"Today we are taking more important steps towards strengthening democracy in our country," he said adding that he voted for "a multi-party Georgian Parliament that would represent the numerous political factions in the country."

Georgians are electing a 150-seat Parliament, where 73 MPs will be elected in 73 majoritarian, single-mandate constituencies, while other 77 seats will go to MPs elected in proportional voting, based on party lists.

19 political parties and 6 election blocs are taking part in the elections. 

By Thea Morrison

Edited by Nicholas Waller