We are gladly announcing our Third Online Symposium on Elections in Times of Epidemic, a closing event before the Summer reaches us with all its felicity. The Symposium gives an opportunity to have a follow-up on the very recent Polish and Serbian elections, which have been discussed at the earlier events. Moreover, as an outlook to the theme of our annual conference, communications in the pandemic will be also... 
Disruption in elections is not a new phenomenon, because EMBs organized elections among challenging circumstances in post-conflict situations, natural disasters, and even pandemics before. But since the COVID-19 pandemic went worldwide, new challenges arose which should be discussed by professionals in order to be able to make the most appropriate decision. There is no unique formula with a tested script... 
29th Annual Conference, 8-10 September 2020, Tbilisi, Georgia (online)
29th Annual Conference and General Assembly meeting of the ACEEEO
Date: 8-10 September 2020, Tbilisi, Georgia (online)
Topic: Elections and Communications - The role of Electoral Management Bodies in conducting and facilitating effective communication
The annual conference focuses on the following issues of Communications:
- different aims of external communications: information, education and tansparency;
- key opportunities and challenges of being 'online' on internet and social media;
- internal communications: flow of information within the EMB system.
Organizers
Central Election Commission of Georgia
The Election Administration of Georgia is an administrative body, which, within its authority, is independent from other state bodies and operates in accordance with the legislation of Georgia. The election administration organizes the elections of the President of Georgia, Parliament of Georgia, municipal representative body - Sakrebulo, municipal executive body - mayor elections, referendum and plebiscite. The supreme body of the Election Administration of Georgia is the Central Election Commission (CEC), which within its authority directs and controls election commissions at all levels and ensures uniform application of the election legislation throughout the territory of Georgia.
The supreme body of Election Administration of Georgia is the CEC, which, within its authority, manages and controls all levels of election commissions. The CEC is composed of a Chairperson and 11 members. The CEC Chairperson simultaneously is a member of the CEC. The Parliament of Georgia elects five members of the CEC, on the recommendation of the President of Georgia, while the qualified parties appoint six members as defined by the Organic law of Georgia "Election Code of Georgia". The term of office of the CEC Chairperson and CEC members appointed by the Parliament is five years. The organization and conduct of fair, credible, transparent elections is ensured by CEC’s Secretariat, which, with help of its structural units, carries out organizational, legal and technical support of election administration and support to the CEC.
The Supreme Election Commission of Autonomous Republic of Adjara (SEC) ensures the preparation and conduct of elections of Supreme Council of Autonomous Republic of Adjara, and, within its authority, ensures uniform application of electoral legislation on the whole territory of Adjara.
District Election Commission is a permanent territorial body of the Electoral Administration of Georgia, which in the Election district, within its power ensures the conduct of elections, referendum, and plebiscite, oversees the process of implementation of the electoral legislation of Georgia, and ensures its uniform application. There are total of 76 DECs in Georgia. A DEC is composed of 12 members; the CEC elects five permanent members, while, during election period, qualified parties appoint six members and the CEC elects one.
Precinct Election Commission is a temporary territorial body of the Electoral Administration of Georgia, which, within its power, ensures the conduct of elections, referendum, and plebiscite in an electoral precinct, implementation of the electoral legislation of Georgia, compliance of the procedures under the electoral legislation of Georgia during polling, exercise and protection of the rights of voters, representatives, and observers guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and Electoral Code. There are around 3.700 PECs created during electoral period in Georgia. A PEC is composed of 12 members; the upper election commission elects six members while qualified parties appoint six members.
Vision of the Election Administration, as of an open, competent and reliable institution is to ensure the development and fortification of the democratic electoral process.
Mission is to support the development of electoral culture, provide equally accessible, effective, innovative services to voters and other electoral stakeholders and conduct secure electoral processes in accordance with the international standards of credibility.
For the successful implementation of the mission, the Election Administration expresses its corporate commitment to the following values: independence, impartiality, transparency, responsibility and accountability, professional integrity and ethics, innovation and service orientation approach, inclusiveness and gender equality, proactivity and involvement.
ACEEEO Secretariat
The Association of European Election Officials, formerly the Association of Central and Eastern Election Officials, was established in 1991. It is a non-governmental organization, an alliance that is independent from political parties. The Association’s main objective is to provide assistance for holding free and fair elections. In order to achieve this mission, the Association supports the operation of permanent election commissions and offices and actively contributes to the establishment of legal standards regarding the requirements for democratic elections. The ACEEEO organizes different meeting points for election professionals – conferences and seminars – and provides professional assistance and guidance for those who require it. By 2017 the ACEEEO counts 25 member-countries and several member-NGOs and keeps good partnership relations with the different international organizations in the field of elections.
Zsolt Szolnoki - Secretary General
István Áhi - Program Manager
János Mécs - Project Manager
