Presidential elections were held in Georgia on 28 October 2018, the seventh presidential elections since the country’s restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The last elections in October 2013 resulted in a victory for Giorgi Margvelashvili, a candidate of the Georgian Dream coalition.

Following amendments to the constitution in 2017, the 2018 elections will be the last direct presidential vote; after 2018 presidents will be elected by the 300-member College of Electors. In view of these changes, the President will be elected for a term of six years in 2018.

A second round involving Salome Zurabishvili and Grigol Vashadze will be held by 2 December 2018 because no candidate was able to secure at least 50% of the vote in the first round.

Sources and further reading:

Near photo-finish in Georgia’s presidential election first-round vote

http://www.intellinews.com/near-photo-finish-in-georgia-s-presidential-election-first-round-vote-150958/

Exit polls differ wildly after Georgia’s presidential election, opposition preparing protest to ‘defend votes’