Georgian prime minister casts ballot in parliamentary election

TBILISI, GEORGIA - OCT. 26: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday, Oct. 26, casted his ballot in parliamentary elections in the capital Tbilisi. Voters in Georgia began casting ballots to elect representatives for the country’s 11th parliament, with 3.5 million registered voters expected to participate. Polls opened at 8 a.m. local time across the country. According to the Central Election Commission, voters will select 150 lawmakers in an election that will determine the makeup of the country’s next government. For the first time, more than 3.1 million of these voters will use electronic voting technology. Nearly 95,910 Georgians residing abroad will vote at 67 polling locations across 40 countries. Eighteen political parties, including four electoral blocs, are competing to pass a 5% electoral threshold, the minimum required to enter parliament. The party or coalition that secures at least 76 seats will be able to form a government independently. The ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012 and the winner of 48.22% of the vote in the last election, is seeking a fourth consecutive term. However, opposition like The Unity to Save Georgia alliance is led by, Georgia's main opposition force the United National Movement, founded in 2001 by now jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili, and the” Coalition for Change” , comprised of recent defectors from the United National Movement, are expected to be formidable challengers. Polls are set to close at 8 p.m., followed by the vote count. (Footage by Davit Kachkachishvili /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)