Evaluating the Partisan Effects of Pandemic Mitigation with Polling Place Data from the Republic of Georgia

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the administration of Georgia’s 2020 parliamentary elections, focusing on accommodations for quarantined and COVID-infected voters. In response to the pandemic, election officials in Georgia implemented mobile ballot voting and special polling stations to safeguard public health, while ensuring voter participation. Utilizing data from election results and a public opinion survey on COVID-related attitudes among Georgians, this study explores potential factors contributing to the superior performance of the ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), in mobile polling stations during the first round of parliamentary elections. Three hypotheses are tested to evaluate the performance of GD: partisan differences in pandemic-related behavior, strategic placement of mobile polling stations in pro-GD neighborhoods, and potential bias in election administration favoring the ruling party. This study provides insights into how pandemic-related electoral adaptations may have influenced political outcomes in Georgia’s contested political environment. It contributes to broader discussions on election integrity during crises and how pandemic-driven accommodations can shape electoral processes.