At stake in this Referendum:

• Voters will be asked to vote on a constitutional provision which would reduce the number of members in the Supreme Council (Umaghiesi Sabcho) from 235 to 150 seats.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Mikhail SAAKASHVILI
• Head of Government: President Mikhail SAAKASHVILI
• Assembly: Georgia has a unicameral Supreme Council (Umaghiesi Sabcho) with 235 seats. ***

*** Of the 235 members, 75 members are elected in single member constituencies, 10 members represent displaced persons from the separatist region of Abkhazia, and 150 are elected by a proportional representation party-list system.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Constitutional Referendum on reducing the number of Supreme Council seats.

Electoral Requirements

• For the referendum to be valid at least 50% of the registered voters must participate and the provision mus
  If approved the first parliament with 150 seats will be voted on in October 2007 to security a majority "Yes" vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 4,301,000 (2003)
• Registered Voters: 3,178,593 (2003)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,271,181 (2003)

·         Is Georgia a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Georgia ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (26 October 1994)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 17 (following the 1999 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 76 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Georgia a signatory to CRPD: Yes (10 July 2009)

·         Has Georgia ratified CRPD: Yes (13 March 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 645,150 (est.)