As a safeguard against multiple voting, a provision has been introduced whereby voters’ fingers are marked with indelible ink (with only a few exceptions). When entering the polling station, each voter has to pass the testing procedure for marking (Art. 521, Art. 54.2a). “Inking” can be regarded as being an important step towards preventing multiple voting, especially if the voter lists are in a sorry state. Unfortunately “inking” is restricted by law to “inhabitant areas of Georgia where more than one election precinct has been established”. In the 2003 elections, therefore, the marking of voters was only applied in urban areas, restricting the usefulness of “inking” as a safeguard against multiple voting.
