The translation of this document is outdated.
Translation validity: 22.01.2022.–31.08.2024.
Amendments not included:
20.06.2024.
Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre) with amending laws of:
26 March 1998 [shall come
into force on 21 April 1998];
27 May 1998 [shall come into force on 12 June
1998];
9 May 2002 [shall come into force on 23 May 2002];
30 May 2002 [shall come into force on 27 June
2002];
5 March 2003 (Constitutional Court Judgment) [shall come
into force on 6 March 2003];
4 September 2003 [shall come into force on 11 September
2003];
9 March 2006 [shall come into force on 6 April
2006];
6 April 2006 [shall come into force on 9 May 2006];
31 May 2007 [shall come into force on 28 June
2007];
26 February 2009 [shall come into force on 1 April
2009];
31 March 2010 [shall come into force on 4 May
2010];
3 March 2011 [shall come into force on 24 March
2011];
14 July 2011 [shall come into force on 23 July
2011];
8 September 2011 [shall come into force on 14 September
2011];
13 December 2012 [shall come into force on 11 January
2013];
12 September 2013 [shall come into force on 1 January
2014];
6 February 2014 [shall come into force on 7 March
2014];
14 July 2014 [shall come into force on 19 July
2014];
3 March 2016 [shall come into force on 29 March
2016];
13 July 2017 [shall come into force on 9 August
2017];
18 January 2018 [shall come into force on 12 February
2018];
23 May 2019 [shall come into force on 26 June
2019];
8 April 2021 [shall come into force on 1 July
2021];
23 September 2021 [shall come into force on 20 October
2021];
20 January 2022 [shall come into force on 22 January
2022].
If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the
date of the amending law appears in square brackets at
the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or
clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears
in square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph
or clause.
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The Saeima 1 has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:
Law on the Election of the
Saeima
Chapter I
General Provisions
Section 1. Citizens of Latvia who have attained 18
years of age on the election day have the right to vote.
[6 February 2014]
Section 2. [6 February 2014]
Section 3. A person has the right to vote in any
constituency.
Section 4. Any citizen of Latvia who is more than 21
years of age on the election day may be elected to the
Saeima unless any of the restrictions referred to in
Section 5 of this Law applies thereto.
Section 5. The following persons may not be nominated
as candidates in the election of the Saeima and may not be
elected to the Saeima:
1) upon whom the court has established trusteeship in
accordance with the procedures laid down in law;
2) who are serving a sentence in places of deprivation of
liberty;
3) who have been convicted of an intentional criminal offence,
except for the persons who have been exonerated or whose criminal
record has been extinguished or set aside;
4) who at the time of committing the offence provided for in
the Criminal Law were in a state of mental incapacity, a state of
diminished mental capacity, or also after committing a criminal
offence have become ill with mental disorders which have deprived
them of the capacity to understand their actions or to control
them and to whom a compulsory measure of medical nature in
relation thereto has been imposed which has not been revoked;
5) who are employees of the State security services,
intelligence or counter-intelligence services of foreign
countries or persons who have been in staff positions in the
State security service, intelligence or counter-intelligence
service of the USSR, the Latvian SSR, except for persons who have
been only the employees of the planning and finance,
administrative and economic departments of the Committee for
State Security of the USSR or the Latvian SSR;
6) who after 13 January 1991 have worked in the CPSU (LCP),
the International Front of the Working People of the Latvian SSR,
the United Work Collective Council, the Organisation of War and
Labour Veterans or the All-Latvia Salvation of Society Committee
or its regional committees;
7) who have been punished with a prohibition to stand as a
candidate in the Saeima, European Parliament, local
government council elections, except for the persons who have
been exonerated or whose criminal record has been extinguished or
set aside.
[6 February 2014; 8 April 2021; 23 September 2021]
Section 6. (1) If the President, the Auditor General, a
member of the Council of the State Audit Office, an ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary, a judge of the Constitutional
Court, a prosecutor, a police officer, or a professional soldier
has been nominated as a candidate for the member of the
Saeima, they must resign from office (service) after the
list of candidates for the members of the Saeima
(hereinafter - the list of candidates) has been registered and
must submit the documents which confirm this fact to the Central
Election Commission within one month.
(2) If the elected member of the Saeima is a member of
the European Parliament, he or she shall lose the status of a
member of the European Parliament upon giving the solemn oath of
a member of the Saeima. The Central Election Commission
shall, within three working days, notify the European Parliament
of losing the status of a member of the European Parliament.
(3) A councillor of a local government council may be
nominated as a candidate for the member of the Saeima, but
he or she shall lose the mandate of the councillor in the
relevant council upon being elected to the Saeima.
(4) A judge who is not a Constitutional Court judge may be
nominated as a candidate for the member of the Saeima, but
he or she shall lose the position of the judge upon being elected
to the Saeima.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 31 May 2007; 26 February 2009;
31 March 2010; 3 March 2011; 8 April 2021]
Section 7. (1) Latvia is divided into five
constituencies for the election of the Saeima:
1) Rīga;
2) Vidzeme;
3) Latgale;
4) Kurzeme;
5) Zemgale.
(2) The constituencies referred to in Paragraph one of this
Section shall cover the following municipalities and State
cities:
1) the constituency of Rīga - the State city of Rīga;
2) the constituency of Vidzeme - the municipalities of Ādaži,
Alūksne, Cēsis, Gulbene, Ķekava, Limbaži, Madona, Mārupe, Ogre,
Olaine, Ropaži, Salaspils, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Valka,
and Valmiera, and the State city of Jūrmala;
3) the constituency of Latgale - the municipalities of
Augšdaugava, Balvi, Krāslava, Līvāni, Ludza, Preiļi, and Rēzekne,
the State city of Daugavpils and the State city of Rēzekne;
4) the constituency of Kurzeme - the municipalities of
Dienvidkurzeme, Kuldīga, Saldus, Talsi, and Ventspils, the State
city of Liepāja and the State city of Ventspils;
5) the constituency of Zemgale - the municipalities of
Aizkraukle, Bauska, Dobele, Jelgava, Jēkabpils, and Tukums, the
State city of Jelgava.
[8 April 2021]
Section 8. (1) The Central Election Commission shall
determine the number of members of the Saeima to be
elected from each constituency in proportion to the number of
voters in the constituency which is established four months
before the election day according to the data of the Register of
Natural Persons, but if the election of the Saeima takes
place in the case provided for in Article 48 of the Constitution
- on the day when the election is announced. Voters residing
abroad shall be included in the number of voters of the
constituency of Rīga.
(2) The number of members of the Saeima to be elected
from each constituency shall be calculated as follows:
1) the total number of voters shall be divided by 100;
2) the number of voters in each constituency shall be divided
by the outcome of the division specified in Paragraph two, Clause
1 of this Section. The whole numbers obtained in this way shall
designate the number of the members of the Saeima to be
elected from constituency;
3) if the sum of the whole numbers of the outcome specified in
Paragraph two, Clause 2 of this Section is less than 100, the
number of members of the Saeima to be elected shall be
increased by one, first for the constituency where the result
shows the largest fraction, afterwards for the constituency with
the next largest fraction and so on until the sum of the whole
numbers is 100;
4) if any two constituencies show an equal result in
fractions, the number of members of the Saeima shall be
first increased for the constituency where the whole number of
the result of the division specified in Paragraph two, Clause 2
of this Section is the smallest;
5) if any two constituencies show an equal result both in
fractions and whole numbers, lots shall be drawn to determine
which constituency will have an increased number of members of
the Saeima.
(3) The number of members of the Saeima to be elected
from each constituency shall be published in the official gazette
Latvijas Vēstnesis not later than 100 days before the
election day, but if the election of the Saeima takes
place in the case provided for in Article 48 of the Constitution
- not later than 50 days before the election day.
[26 March 1998; 6 February 2014; 23 September 2021]
Chapter II
Submission of Lists of Candidates
Section 9. (1) A list of candidates may be submitted
by:
1) a political party registered in accordance with the
procedures laid down in law which has been established not later
than one year before the election of the Saeima and which
has at least 500 members;
2) an alliance of political parties registered in accordance
with the procedures laid down in law if all political parties
belonging to the alliance of political parties have been
established not later than one year before the election of the
Saeima and if the alliance of political parties has at
least 500 members.
(11) The number of members of a political party or
an alliance of political parties shall be determined according to
the latest register of party members submitted to the Party
Register institution which has been submitted to the Party
Register institution within the last 12 months prior to the day
of submission of the list of candidates. The Central Election
Commission shall obtain the information referred to in this
Paragraph from the Party Register institution.
(2) The lists of candidates shall be submitted to the Central
Election Commission within the time period and in accordance with
the procedures stipulated thereby. The list of candidates shall
be submitted by a person who has been authorised by the
decision-making body of the relevant political party or alliance
of political parties.
(3) The lists of candidates may be submitted starting from the
eightieth day prior to the election day. The last day for the
submission of the lists of candidates is the sixtieth day before
the election day.
(4) If the election of the Saeima takes place in the
case provided for in Article 48 of the Constitution, the lists of
candidates may be submitted starting from the fiftieth day before
the election day and the last day for the submission of the lists
of candidates shall be the thirtieth day before the election
day.
[26 March 1998, 30 May 2002; 26 February 2009; 3 March
2016]
Section 10. (1) The given name, surname, and personal
identity number of each candidate shall be indicated in the list
of candidates.
(2) The number of candidates nominated in the list may exceed
the number of members of the Saeima to be elected in the
relevant constituency by three candidates.
(3) The same candidate may be nominated only to the list of
candidates bearing one name in one constituency. If any candidate
is nominated in the lists of candidates bearing different names
or in a list of candidates bearing one name in various
constituencies, his or her nomination shall be deleted from all
the lists of candidates.
(4) The name of the list of candidates shall correspond
to:
1) the name of the relevant political party if the list of
candidates is submitted by a political party;
2) the name of the relevant alliance of political parties if
the list of candidates is submitted by an alliance of political
parties;
3) [26 March 1998].
(5) The list of candidates shall be signed by a person
authorised by the decision-making body of the relevant political
party or alliance of political parties. The list of candidates
and the documents to be appended thereto (Section 11) shall be
prepared by using the application software of the Central
Election Commission. The list of candidates, the data on
candidates, and the pre-election programme shall be submitted in
writing and electronically.
[26 March 1998; 30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 26 February
2009; 31 March 2010]
Section 11. The following documents shall be appended
to the list of candidates:
1) a statement signed by each candidate included in the list
that he or she agrees to stand as a candidate and agrees to the
processing of his or her personal data which is to be carried out
in accordance with the requirements of this Law;
2) a pre-election programme signed by all the candidates
included in the list the size of which may not exceed 4000
characters;
3) a declaration signed by every candidate included in the
list that he or she conforms to the requirements of Section 4 of
this Law and the restrictions referred to in Section 5 of this
Law do not apply to him or her;
31) a confirmation signed by each candidate
included in the list that he or she has knowledge of the official
language to the extent necessary for the performance of
professional duties;
4) the following information signed by each candidate included
in the list:
a) given name, surname, year of birth, gender of the
candidate, and, if the candidate wishes - also nationality,
family status;
b) personal identity number;
c) foreign citizenship (nationality), if any;
d) place of residence (administrative territory of a local
government);
e) places of employment and positions held (including
positions in political parties, religious organisations, trade
unions, associations, and foundations) or - if there is no place
of employment - occupation, status;
f) which educational institutions he or she has graduated and
in which year, what level of education and in what speciality has
been acquired;
g) [6 February 2014];
h) whether he or she has or has not collaborated with the
State security services, intelligence or counter-intelligence
services of the USSR or Latvian SSR as a non-staff employee of
these services, an agent, a resident, or a safehouse keeper;
i) information indicated in Section 24, Paragraph one, Clauses
4, 5, 5.1, 6, 7, 10, and 11 of the law On Prevention
of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials
according to the status as on 1 January of the year of the
submission of the election list. Candidates who have submitted
the declaration of a public official in the year of the
submission of the election list may use in the application
software of the Central Election Commission the information on
themselves available from the information systems of the State
Revenue Service. The State Revenue Service shall ensure the
availability of the information referred to in the first sentence
of this Sub-clause in the application software of the Central
Election Commission from the information systems of the State
Revenue Service.
j) [9 March 2006];
5) [9 May 2002].
[26 March 1998; 9 May 2002; 30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 31
May 2007; 26 February 2009; 12 September 2013; 6 February 2014;
18 January 2018; 8 April 2021]
Section 12. (1) The Central Election Commission shall
register only such lists of candidates the submitters of which
have paid the security deposit of EUR 1400 in the deposit of the
Central Election Commission.
(2) The payer of the security deposit shall indicate in the
payment order by whom the security deposit has been made, the
time when the security deposit was made, and the name of the list
of candidates for which the deposit has been made.
(3) The security deposit paid shall confer the right to submit
the lists of candidates bearing the same name for all
constituencies and it shall be returned to the payer if the list
of candidates bearing such name has received at least two or more
per cent from the number of valid votes cast.
(4) The security deposit paid for the list of candidates
bearing such name which has received less than two per cent of
the number of valid votes cast shall be transferred by the
Central Election Commission to the State budget.
[30 May 2002; 12 September 2013; 6 February 2014; 18
January 2018]
Section 13. (1) The lists of candidates that have been
submitted in accordance with the requirements of this Law are
registered in the Central Election Commission.
(2) Registered lists of candidates cannot be withdrawn and
only the Central Election Commission may make amendments to them
in one of the following ways:
1) by deleting the nominated candidate if it is determined
that:
a) the person does not have the right to stand as a candidate
in the election of the Saeima;
b) the candidate is a person who has not resigned from his or
her office (service) in accordance with the procedures laid down
in Section 6, Paragraph one of this Law;
c) the same person has been nominated on the lists of
candidates bearing different names or on the list of candidates
bearing the same name in several constituencies (Section 10,
Paragraph three);
d) the candidate has died;
2) by making corrections of a technical nature.
(3) In the cases referred to in Paragraph two, Clause 1,
Sub-clauses "a" and "d" of this Section, the candidate shall be
deleted on the basis of a notice issued by the relevant
institution or of a court judgment. The fact that the
candidate:
1) is not a citizen of Latvia or is a citizen of Latvia who
has not attained 21 years of age on the election day - shall be
certified by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs;
2) is serving a sentence in a place of deprivation of liberty
- shall be certified by the Information Centre of the Ministry of
the Interior;
3) has been convicted of an intentional criminal offence and
his or her criminal record has been extinguished or set aside -
shall be certified by the Information Centre of the Ministry of
the Interior;
4) at the time of committing the offence provided for in the
Criminal Law was in a state of mental incapacity, a state of
diminished mental capacity, or also after committing a criminal
offence has become ill with mental disorders which have deprived
him or her of the capacity to understand his or her actions or to
control them and to whom a compulsory measure of medical nature
in relation thereto has been imposed which has not been revoked -
shall be certified by the Information Centre of the Ministry of
the Interior;
5) is or has been in a staff position in the State security
services, intelligence or counter-intelligence services of the
USSR, the Latvian SSR or of foreign countries - shall be
certified by the judgment of the relevant court;
6) after 13 January 1991 has worked in the CPSU (LCP), the
International Front of the Working People of the Latvian SSR, the
United Work Collective Council, the Organisation of War and
Labour Veterans or the All-Latvia Salvation of Society Committee
or its regional committees - shall be certified by the judgment
of the relevant court;
7) [9 May 2002];
8) has died - shall be confirmed by the Office of Citizenship
and Migration Affairs;
9) according to a court judgment is not entitled to stand as a
candidate in the Saeima, European Parliament, local
government council elections - shall be certified by the
Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior.
(4) The relevant information shall be submitted by the
institutions referred to in Paragraph three of this Section in
writing to the Central Election Commission upon request thereof
free of charge within five days.
(5) If information that a nominated candidate does not have
the right to stand as a candidate in the election of the
Saeima is received by the Central Election Commission
later than on the 50th day before the elections and it is
impossible to produce new ballot papers of the relevant list of
candidates, voters shall be issued with ballot papers of the
relevant list of candidates with the given name and surname of
this candidate. In counting the votes and calculating the
election results, the votes cast for the relevant person are not
taken into account.
[26 March 1998; 9 May 2002; 30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 26
February 2009; 31 March 2010; 18 January 2018; 8 April 2021; 23
September 2021]
Section 13.1 (1) The decision of the Central
Election Commission to register the list of candidates or to
refuse to register the list of candidates, and also to delete a
nominated candidate from a registered list of candidates may be
appealed in a court within three working days from the day of
taking the abovementioned decision.
(2) In order to enforce the court judgment by which the
decision referred to in Paragraph one of this Section is
repealed, the Central Election Commission shall either register
or delete the relevant list of candidates or shall either restore
the nominated candidate on the registered list of candidates or
delete it from it.
[9 March 2006]
Section 14. (1) The Central Election Commission shall
assign numbers to the lists of candidates by first choosing the
numbers by lot for those lists of candidates which are registered
for all five constituencies, afterwards for those which are
registered for four constituencies, and so on. Choosing by lot is
done in each of the aforementioned groups in the sequence of
registration of the lists of candidates. The lists of candidates
bearing the same name shall have the same number in all
constituencies.
(2) The Central Election Commission shall ensure the printing
of the lists of candidates on separate forms - ballot papers -
and the conveyance thereof to polling station commissions.
(3) The following information shall be indicated on the ballot
paper:
1) the constituency;
2) the number of the list of candidates;
3) the name of the list of candidates;
4) the given name and surname of the nominated candidates.
(4) Opposite the surname of each candidate on the ballot paper
there is a space for the voter to make a mark.
(5) The Central Election Commission shall ensure that ballot
envelopes are made and delivered to polling station
commissions.
(6) The name of the election and the number of the convocation
of the Saeima to be elected shall be indicated on the
ballot envelope.
[9 March 2006]
Section 15. The Central Election Commission shall
ensure that the following is published in the official gazette
Latvijas Vēstnesis not later than 20 days, but if the
election of the Saeima takes place in the case referred to
in Article 48 of the Constitution - not later than 10 days before
the election day:
1) the pre-election programmes;
2) all the lists of candidates, indicating the information on
each candidate referred to in this Law, except for the personal
identity number of the candidate;
3) the information referred to in Section 11, Clause 4,
Sub-clause "a" and Sub-clauses "c"-"i" of this Law on each
candidate;
4) the given names and surnames of the candidates in respect
of whom the Centre for the Documentation of the Consequences of
Totalitarianism has information stating that at its disposal, in
the State Archives or other national depositories there are
documents certifying the fact that these candidates could have
collaborated with the State security services, intelligence or
counter-intelligence services of the USSR, the Latvian SSR or of
foreign countries as non-staff employees of these services,
agents, residents, or safehouse keepers.
[26 March 1998; 9 May 2002; 30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 31
March 2010; 6 February 2014]
Chapter III
Election Procedure
Section 16. (1) At least five days before the election
day, each polling station shall:
1) display announcements about the lists of nominated
candidates and the pre-election programmes in a place visible for
the voters;
2) make available the information on each candidate referred
to in this Law, except for the personal identity number of the
candidate.
(2) The local government election commissions shall determine
the polling stations where it is possible to cast a vote for
depositing thereof. The local government election commissions
shall, not later than 15 days before the election day, announce
the addresses and the opening and closing time of the polling
stations.
(3) The ballot papers, envelopes, lists of participating
voters, ballot boxes, and other election materials starting from
the receipt thereof at the polling station until the transfer
thereof to the local government election commission shall be kept
in the building where the polling station is located in
accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Central Election
Commission, ensuring the physical and technical security guard of
the relevant premises.
[26 March 1998; 9 May 2002; 30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 26
February 2009; 13 December 2012; 6 February 2014; 8 April 2021;
23 September 2021]
Section 17. Elections shall be held from 7.00 in the
morning to 8.00 in the evening, local time, on the first Saturday
of October. If in case of the dissolution of the Saeima
the election of the Saeima takes place another time of the
year, the election day shall be determined by the Central
Election Commission.
[4 September 2003; 31 March 2010]
Section 18. (1) At 7.00 in the morning a chairperson of
the polling station commission or the secretary shall, in the
presence of the commission, ascertain that the ballot boxes,
allotted for depositing ballot papers, are empty. After this the
opening part of the box shall be sealed.
(2) Without interfering with the work of the commission, the
election procedure may be concurrently observed by not more than
two authorised observers from each political party or alliance of
political parties that has submitted the list of candidates for
the respective constituency, and also by the members of the
Central Election Commission, members of the relevant local
government election commission, and persons authorised by these
commissions, mass media representatives. A candidate may not act
as an authorised observer.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 26 February 2009; 6 February
2014; 8 April 2021]
Section 19. (1) During the election, the chairperson of
the polling station commission shall ensure the order in the
polling premises. He or she shall ascertain that restrictions of
election freedoms, including the delay of exercising the election
rights, disturbances to order and campaigning, do not occur in
the polling premises and closer than 50 metres from the entrance
to the building where the polling station is located.
(2) The chairperson of the polling station commission shall be
responsible for the supervision and keeping of election
documents, materials, and property given to the relevant polling
station commission.
(3) Upon establishing indications of the possible existence of
the infringements referred to in Paragraph one of this Section,
the chairperson of the polling station commission shall
immediately notify the competent authority thereof.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 18 January 2018]
Section 20. (1) A voter shall present a personal
identification document valid in the Republic of Latvia to the
polling station commission.
(2) [26 March 1998]
[26 March 1998; 23 September 2021]
Section 21. Except for the cases provided for in
Section 25 of this Law, a voter may only vote in person.
Section 22. (1) Voting in the elections shall be by
secret ballot.
(2) The ballot papers of all the lists of candidates nominated
in the constituency and a ballot envelope which is sealed with a
seal of the relevant polling station commission shall be issued
by the polling station commission to each voter. The voter shall
place in this envelope the ballot paper that conforms to the list
of candidates for which he or she votes. Each voter may vote only
once.
(3) Inside the polling premises, a member of the polling
station commission (hereinafter - the polling station
commission), having ascertained in the electoral register online
that the person is a voter and that there is no notation in the
electoral register on the participation of this person in the
relevant election of the Saeima, shall make a notation in
the electoral register online on the participation in the
relevant election of the Saeima and enter the given name,
surname, and personal identity number of the voter in the list of
participating voters. The voter shall sign the list of
participating voters confirming the receipt of a complete set of
ballot papers containing the lists of candidates nominated for
the constituency and the ballot envelope.
(31) If there is a notation in the electoral
register on the participation of the voter in the elections,
however, he or she denies that, the polling station commission
shall contact the polling station commission in which the voter,
according to the information in the electoral register, has voted
and shall clarify whether there is the signature of the voter in
the list of participating voters of the polling station. If the
absence of the signature is confirmed, the voter may vote. If the
presence of the signature is confirmed, the voter shall be
refused voting.
(4) Members of the election commissions are prohibited from
campaigning for or against candidates or the lists of
candidates.
[26 March 1998; 30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 18 January 2018;
23 September 2021]
Section 23. (1) A separate room or booth shall be
installed in the polling premises where the voter alone shall
place in the ballot envelope one ballot paper in the ballot
envelope and seal the envelope.
(2) On the ballot paper opposite the surnames of the
candidates the voter may, at his or her discretion, make a "+"
mark, not make a mark, or strike out the given name or surname of
the candidate.
(3) A voter shall make a "+" mark opposite the surname of a
candidate if he or she especially supports the election of such a
candidate. If the voter does not support any of the candidates
included in the ballot paper, he or she shall strike out the
given name or surname of such candidate. A voter may also place
an unchanged ballot paper (without marks) into the ballot
envelope.
(4) A voter shall insert the sealed ballot envelope into the
sealed ballot box in the presence of a member of the election
commission.
(5) If prior to inserting the ballot paper into the envelope
and sealing thereof has damaged the ballot envelope, a new ballot
envelope is issued to the voter. The voter shall sign the list of
participating voters for the receipt of a replacement ballot
envelope, and a special entry to this effect shall be made in the
election procedure log.
[26 March 1998; 30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 6 February 2014;
18 January 2018]
Section 24. (1) On the basis of a written submission
from a voter, his or her authorised person, or trustee which has
been registered in the election procedure log, the polling
station commission, upon ensuring secret ballot, shall organise
voting at the location of the voter for:
1) voters who are unable to come to the polling premises due
to their state of health and for carers of such voters;
2) carers of persons who are ill.
Observers authorised for this purpose are entitled to observe
such voting.
(2) [6 February 2014]
(3) Voting of other voters outside the polling premises is not
permissible.
(4) On the election day the polling station commission shall
continue to accept written submissions regarding voting at the
location of voters. Submissions accepted after 12.00 noon shall
be satisfied by the polling station commission if it is possible
to arrive at the location of voters until 8.00 in the
evening.
(5) Voters who in accordance with Paragraphs one and two of
this Section vote at their location are entered in a separate
list of participating voters for voting at the location of the
voter and the sealed ballot envelopes are inserted in a separate
sealed box.
(6) Information on the ballot envelopes issued for voting at
the location of voters and spare ballot envelopes, including
damaged ballot envelopes, shall be entered in the election
procedure log.
(61) The polling station shall be contacted if it
is not possible to ascertain at the location of a voter that the
information on the person is included in the electoral register
and that there is no notation on the participation of this person
in the relevant election. If it is not possible, the voting shall
take place by using a registration envelope in accordance with
the procedures laid down in Section 48.2 of this
Law.
(7) [26 February 2009]
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 26 February 2009; 6 February
2014; 18 January 2018; 23 September 2021]
Section 25. If a voter cannot vote or sign the list of
participating voters himself or herself due to a physical
disability, marks on the ballot paper shall be made or the list
of participating voters shall be signed by either a family member
of the voter or another person whom the voter trusts in the
presence of the voter and according to his or her instructions. A
relevant notation thereon shall be made in the list of
participating voters. Such person may not be a member of the
relevant polling station commission.
[26 March 1998; 9 March 2006]
Section 26. (1) On the election day, the employer has
an obligation to release an employee from the performance of work
duties for the time period required for voting.
(2) On the election day, soldiers shall be released from
service duties for the time period required for voting.
[9 March 2006]
Section 27. (1) On the election day after 8.00 in the
evening, ballot papers may be placed only by those voters who had
arrived in the polling premises before 8.00 in the evening. After
that, the polling premises shall be closed.
(2) [26 March 1998]
(3) [26 March 1998]
[26 March 1998; 6 April 2006; 31 March 2010]
Section 28. (1) Starting with the opening of a polling
station, the secretary of the polling station commission or - in
his or her absence - another member of the commission authorised
by the chairperson of the polling station commission shall write
up the election procedure log in accordance with the procedures
specified by the Central Electoral Commission by using the
application software of the Central Election Commission.
(2) Voters shall submit complaints regarding the election
procedures to the chairperson of the polling station commission
immediately and they are registered in the election procedure
log. Any complaint regarding the election procedures shall be
examined and a reply shall be given to the submitter of the
complaint, but the content thereof shall be recorded in the
election procedure log.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 6 February 2014; 18 January
2018]
Chapter IV
Counting of Votes and Calculation of Election Results
Section 29. (1) The counting of votes shall commence
immediately after the closing of the polling station. Counting is
done by the polling station commission in an open meeting.
(2) Without interfering with the work of the commission, the
meeting may be concurrently attended by no more than two
authorised observers from each political party or alliance of
political parties that has submitted a list of candidates for the
respective constituency, and also members of the Central Election
Commission, the relevant local government election commission and
persons authorised by these commissions, mass media
representatives.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 26 February 2009; 18 January
2018; 8 April 2021]
Section 30. Immediately after closing the polling
station, the polling station commission shall seal the ballot
boxes, close the list of participating voters, and prepare the
premises for the counting of votes. Election materials not used
in voting shall be packed in accordance with the procedures
specified by the Central European Commission or placed in a
manner that does not hinder the counting of votes.
[30 May 2002]
Section 31. (1) The polling station commission shall
record the data obtained while counting the votes in the election
procedure log. The polling station commission shall prepare a
vote counting report regarding the counting of votes which shall
consist of two parts. Information from the election procedure log
on the number of votes received by each list of candidates shall
be entered in the first part of the vote counting report.
Information from the election procedure log on the number of
votes received by each candidate shall be entered in the second
part of the vote counting report.
(2) Prior to the opening of ballot boxes, the polling station
commission shall enter in the election procedure log information
on the received, used, and spare ballot envelopes, the number of
voters at the polling station and at the location of voters.
Sealed ballot envelopes which have not been used in voting shall
be cancelled.
(3) The ballot boxes shall be opened after entering the
information referred to in Paragraph two of this Section in the
election procedure log and the packaging of materials and ballot
envelopes not usable in the counting of votes. The ballot boxes
shall be opened one by one and the ballot envelopes shall be
counted.
(4) Ballot envelopes taken out of each ballot box, without
opening them, shall be sorted into valid and invalid ballot
envelopes.
(5) The ballot envelopes shall be deemed invalid if they are
torn, if they do not bear a stamp of the relevant polling station
commission, and also if they do not bear the name of the relevant
election and the number of the convocation of the Saeima
to be elected.
(6) Invalid ballot envelopes shall be counted and packaged
unopened, specifying that the pack contains invalid ballot
envelopes and the number thereof. The total number of invalid
ballot envelopes shall be entered in the election procedure
log.
(7) The number of valid ballot envelopes removed from each
ballot box must be equal to or less than the number of voters
entered in the relevant list of participating voters.
(71) If the number of valid ballot envelopes in any
ballot box exceeds the number of voters entered in the relevant
list of participating voters, the ballot station commission shall
make an entry in the election procedure log and shall immediately
notify the relevant local government election commission thereof.
Further counting of votes and all other activities in respect of
the content of such ballot box shall be performed separately,
preparing a special vote counting report. The addition of the
content of such box to the total results shall be decided by the
Central Election Commission.
(8) If a ballot box contains ballot papers which are not
inserted in ballot envelopes, they shall be cancelled and
packaged in accordance with the procedures specified by the
Central Election Commission.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 6 February 2014; 18 January
2018; 8 April 2021]
Section 32. (1) Subsequent to the counting of the valid
ballot envelopes, they shall be opened and their content shall be
concurrently determined:
1) the envelope contains one ballot paper of the relevant
constituency;
2) the envelope contains more than one ballot paper;
3) the envelope contains a ballot paper of another
constituency;
4) the envelope contains a torn ballot paper;
5) there is no ballot paper in the envelope.
(2) Envelopes which contained one ballot paper of the relevant
constituency do not have to be kept after ballot papers are taken
out. Ballot papers from these envelopes shall be placed together
for counting.
(3) Empty ballot envelopes, and also the ballot envelopes
which contained more than one ballot paper or a torn ballot
paper, or a ballot paper of another constituency shall, together
with their contents, be placed separately.
[30 May 2002]
Section 33. (1) When all the valid ballot envelopes are
opened, the polling station commission shall decide on the
validity of those ballot papers which were in the ballot
envelopes with several ballot papers, torn ballot papers, and
ballot papers of another constituency.
(2) If a ballot envelope contains several absolutely identical
ballot papers, one of them shall be deemed to be valid and added
to the valid ballot papers for counting, but others shall be
deemed to be invalid.
(3) Envelopes containing torn ballot papers as well as empty
ballot envelopes shall be deemed to be ballot envelopes without
valid ballot papers.
(4) If a ballot envelope contains more than one ballot paper
and these ballot papers are not identical as concerns their
content (also as concerns the marks made), it shall be deemed to
be an envelope without a valid ballot paper.
(5) The polling station commission shall resolve the
differences of opinion regarding the validity of ballot papers by
majority vote. In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson of
the commission shall cast the deciding vote.
(6) The valid ballot papers shall be grouped according to the
names of the lists of candidates. Afterwards the votes cast for
each list of candidates shall be counted.
(7) After the votes cast for each list of candidates have been
counted, the polling station commission shall, in accordance with
the procedures specified by the Central Election Commission,
immediately announce the number of votes cast for each list of
candidates.
[30 May 2002]
Section 34. [6 February 2014]
Section 35. (1) The polling station commission shall
count the number of marks made by the voters for each candidate
in accordance with the procedures specified by the Central
Election Commission. It shall be counted in respect of each
candidate in how many ballot papers voters have made a "+" mark
opposite the surname of a candidate and in how many ballot papers
voters have struck out the given name or surname of a
candidate.
(2) The polling station commission shall enter the number of
marks received by each candidate in the election procedure log.
After completion of the counting of votes it shall prepare the
second part of the vote counting report.
(3) After approval of the results of the counting of votes,
the polling station commission shall report them to the
authorised observers present and media representatives.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 6 February 2014; 18 January
2018]
Section 35.1 (1) The submitter of the list
of candidates and the nominated candidate have the right to
become acquainted with the vote counting report and to contest
the report to the Central Election Commission within three
working days after the decision to approve the results of the
report has been taken. The Central Election Commission shall
examine the submission and take a decision within three working
days.
(2) A decision of the Central Election Commission on the
contested vote counting report of the polling station commission
may be appealed to the court within three working days after the
day of taking thereof.
[9 March 2006; 18 January 2018; 23 May 2019]
Section 36. After the counting of votes and the
completion of the vote counting report, all valid and invalid
ballot papers together with ballot envelopes, unused sealed and
invalid ballot envelopes and one copy of the vote counting report
of the polling station commission shall be packaged and sealed.
The authorised observers present also have the right to affix
their own stamps or put their signatures on the package if no
ballot boxes and numbered seals are used for sealing. A reference
thereto shall be made in the election procedure log. Afterwards
the polling station commission shall send the election materials
to the Central Election Commission in accordance with the
procedures specified by the Central Election Commission.
[30 May 2002; 9 March 2006; 26 February 2009; 6 February
2014; 18 January 2018]
Section 37. [26 February 2009 / Amendment regarding the
deletion of the Section shall come into force on 1 July 2009. See
Transitional Provision]
Section 38. (1) The members of the Saeima
elected in constituencies shall be determined by the Central
Election Commission. The lists of candidates bearing the same
name which have received less than five per cent of the total
number of votes cast in the entire Latvia, regardless of the
number of constituencies for which these lists of candidates have
been nominated, shall be excluded from the distribution of seats
in the Saeima. The number of valid ballot envelopes shall
be deemed to be the total number of votes cast (the total number
of voters participating in the election).
(2) In order to distribute the number of seats in the
Saeima between the other lists of candidates nominated in
the constituency, the following procedures shall be applied:
1) the number of valid ballot papers cast for each list of
candidates shall be determined in each constituency;
2) the number of ballot papers cast for each list of
candidates shall be then sequentially divided by 1, 3, 5, 7 and
so on until the number of divisions is the same as the number of
candidates nominated in the list of candidates;
3) all the acquired divisions regarding all the lists of
candidates of one constituency shall be numbered in common
descending order;
4) seats of the members of the Saeima shall
sequentially be received by those lists of candidates of the
constituency which conform to the largest divisions. If the
division the sequence number of which is equal to the number of
the members of the Saeima to be elected from the
constituency is equal to one or several subsequent divisions, a
seat of the member of the Saeima shall be received by the
list of candidates which has acquired more votes. If such lists
of candidates have been registered only in one constituency, a
seat of the member of the Saeima shall be received by the
list of candidates that has been registered first.
[26 March 1998; 27 May 1998]
Section 39. In each list of candidates, the nominated
candidates shall be listed according to the number of votes
received. The number of votes cast for a candidate shall be equal
to the number of votes which were cast for the list of candidates
in which this candidate was included, minus the number of ballot
papers in which the given name or surname of this candidate was
struck out, plus the number of those ballot papers in which
voters made a "+" mark opposite the surname of this candidate. If
two or more candidates of the same list of candidates have
received an equal number of votes, they shall be mutually listed
according to the sequence provided for by the submitters of the
list of candidates. Those candidates who have received the
largest number of votes shall be elected, but the remainder shall
be recorded as candidates in such order as they were listed
according to the number of votes which were received by them.
Section 40. [31 March 2010]
Section 41. If the elected member of the Saeima
has died, resigned or has lost or laid down his or her mandate
due to other reasons, the next candidate from the same list of
candidates from which the previous member was elected shall come
in his or her place.
Section 42. If due to the reasons provided for in
Section 41 of this Law, a list of candidates has insufficient
candidates, the procedures laid down in Section 38 of this Law
shall be used to decide from which list of candidates the next
member of the Saeima shall be selected.
Chapter V
Participation in the Election of the Saeima of such
Citizens of Latvia who at the Election Time Reside in a Foreign
Country, are on Duty in Official International Operations or who
are Subject to Arrest as the Security Measure, or who are Serving
a Sentence Related to Deprivation of Liberty
[6 February 2014]
Section 43. (1) Upon a proposal of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the Central Election Commission shall establish
polling stations in foreign countries in diplomatic or consular
missions of the Republic of Latvia.
(2) Upon consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the Central Election Commission may also establish polling
stations in other premises suitable for this purpose.
(3) Voters who at the election time reside in a foreign
country may vote on the election day in person at any of the
established polling stations or by post in accordance with the
procedures laid down in this Law.
(4) The Central Election Commission may establish election
commissions and polling stations on ships sailing under the flag
of Latvia and registered in the Republic of Latvia.
(5) Voting in foreign countries and on ships shall be
organised if it is possible to ensure compliance with the
provisions of this Law.
[9 March 2006]
Section 44. (1) Voters casting their votes in polling
stations which have been established in foreign countries or on
ships shall receive ballot papers containing the lists of
candidates nominated for the constituency of Rīga and their votes
shall be added to the other votes cast in the constituency of
Rīga.
(2) Voting in polling stations established in foreign
countries shall take place in accordance with the procedures laid
down in Chapter III of this Law (except for Section 24).
[27 May 1998; 30 May 2002]
Section 45. (1) A voter who wishes to vote by post
shall submit a submission for postal voting to the relevant
diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Latvia on site,
by post, or electronically. The voter shall indicate in the
submission his or her given name, surname, personal identity
number, and electronic mail address or official electronic
address. The voter may apply for postal voting 70 days before the
election day but not later than three weeks before the election
day. If the election takes place in the case provided for in
Article 48 of the Constitution, a voter may apply for postal
voting one week after the day when the election is announced, but
not later than two weeks before the election day.
(2) Upon receipt of such submission, the polling station
commission shall, following commencement of activity of the
electoral register:
1) verify in the electoral register whether the submitter is a
voter who has not been registered yet for postal voting;
2) make a notation in the electoral register on the
application of a voter for postal voting and enter the electronic
mail address or official electronic address indicated by the
voter;
3) register the voter in the voter list for postal voting.
(3) If the submission for postal voting has been submitted
without complying with the procedures laid down in Paragraph one
of this Section or if the submitter is not a voter, or the
submitter has already been registered for postal voting by
indicating the same electronic mail address or official
electronic address, the polling station commission shall refuse
to send election documents by a reasoned decision. The appeal of
the decision to decline the delivery of the election materials
shall not suspend its operation.
(4) A voter who has been registered for postal voting may
change the indicated electronic mail address or official
electronic address not later than three weeks before the election
day by submitting a submission thereon to the relevant diplomatic
or consular mission of the Republic of Latvia in accordance with
the procedures laid down in Paragraph one of this Section. If the
election takes place in the case provided for in Article 48 of
the Constitution, the voter may change the indicated electronic
mail address or official electronic address not later than two
weeks before the election day.
(5) The polling station commission shall, not later than 15
days before the election day (if the election takes place in the
case provided for in Article 48 of the Constitution - not later
than 10 days before the election day), send the website address
where voting materials are available to the voter to the
electronic mail address or official electronic address indicated
in the submission.
(6) Application for postal voting shall also be possible by
using the free electronic service available on the service portal
of the State administration www.latvija.lv or on the official
website of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs 35
days before the election day but not later than three weeks
before the election day (if the election takes place in the case
provided for in Article 48 of the Constitution - not later than
two weeks before the election day). When applying in such manner,
the voter shall, in addition to the information referred to in
Paragraph one of this Section, also indicate the foreign country
from which he or she intends to send his or her vote. In respect
of the applications received in the electronic service, the
activities referred to in Paragraphs two, three, and five of this
Section shall be performed by the Central Election Commission.
The Central Election Commission shall send to the relevant
polling station commissions the information on voters who have
applied for postal voting in the electronic service. The polling
station commissions shall supplement their voter list for postal
voting accordingly.
(7) If a voter who has applied for postal voting arrives at a
polling station on the election day, he or she may vote at the
polling station.
[23 September 2021]
Section 45.1 (1) Voters who are subject to
arrest as the security measure or who are serving a sentence
related to deprivation of liberty may participate in the election
at the place of imprisonment.
(2) A voter who wants to vote at the place of imprisonment
shall submit a submission to the administration of the place of
imprisonment, indicating his or her given name, surname, and
personal identity number. Application for voting may be made not
later than on the second day before the election day.
(3) The administration of the place of imprisonment shall
verify whether the person who wishes to vote at the place of
imprisonment is a citizen of Latvia who will have attained 18
years of age on the election day and shall register the
submission in the list for voting at the place of
imprisonment.
(4) On the day before the election day, the administration of
the place of imprisonment shall deliver the list referred to in
Paragraph three of this Section to the relevant polling station
commission.
(5) On the election day, after the ballot station has been
opened and ballot boxes have been sealed, the polling station
commission shall deliver the forms for the list of participating
voters, the ballot papers of all the lists of candidates
nominated in the relevant constituency, ballot envelopes bearing
a stamp of the relevant polling station commission, and a sealed
ballot box to the administration of the place of imprisonment.
The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs shall ensure that
the administration of a prison has access to the electoral
register online.
[26 February 2009; 23 September 2021]
Section 45.2 (1) The administration of a
prison shall enter the given name, surname, personal identity
number of a voter in the list of participating voters and make a
notation in the electoral register online on the participation in
the relevant election of the Saeima. The voter shall sign
the list of participating voters confirming the receipt of a
complete set of ballot papers containing the lists of candidates
nominated for the relevant constituency and the ballot
envelope.
(2) A voter shall select a ballot paper corresponding to the
list of candidates for which he or she shall vote, if he or she
so wishes, shall make the marks referred to in Section 23 of this
Law and shall place the ballot paper in the ballot envelope and
seal the envelope. The voter shall insert the sealed ballot
envelope into the ballot box.
(3) The administration of the place of imprisonment is
prohibited from campaigning for or against candidates or lists of
candidates.
(4) When the voting is over, the administration of the place
of imprisonment shall immediately deliver the lists of
participating voters, unused ballot envelopes, and the ballot box
to the relevant polling station.
[26 February 2009; 23 September 2021]
Section 45.3 (1) Soldiers and national
guardsmen who are performing service duties in international
operations may take part in the election in the region of the
relevant international operation if it is possible to ensure
conformity with the conditions of this Law.
(2) The Central Election Commission shall, not later than four
weeks before the election day, hand over the seal of the polling
station commission, voter recording devices, registration
envelopes, safety seals, forms for the lists of participating
voters, ballot papers of all the lists of candidates nominated in
the constituency of Rīga, ballot envelopes, and the ballot box to
the National Armed Forces for transfer to a person authorised by
the Commander of the National Armed Forces.
(3) On the election day, before voting starts, the person
authorised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces shall,
in the presence of the first voter, ascertain whether the ballot
box is empty and shall seal it. The Office of Citizenship and
Migration Affairs shall ensure that the person authorised by the
Commander of the National Armed Forces has access to the
electoral register online. The person authorised by the Commander
of the National Armed Forces, having previously ascertained
online that the person is a voter and that there is no notation
in the electoral register on the participation of this person in
the relevant election of the Saeima, shall make a notation
in the electoral register online on the participation in the
relevant election of the Saeima and enter the given name,
surname, and personal identity number of the voter in the list of
participating voters. If there is a notation in the electoral
register on the participation of the voter in the election but he
or she denies that, the person authorised by the Commander of the
National Armed Forces shall act in accordance with the procedures
laid down in Section 48.1, Paragraph 2.1 of
this Law. The person authorised by the Commander of the National
Armed Forces shall issue to each voter the ballot papers of all
the lists of candidates nominated in the constituency of Rīga and
the ballot envelope bearing the seal of the relevant polling
station commission and the voter shall sign the list of
participating voters, thus confirming this fact. The issuing of
separate ballot papers is prohibited. Voting shall be organised
in the presence of at least three voters. In the case of
disruption to activity of the electoral register online,the
person authorised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces
shall act in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section
48.2 of this Law.
(4) Voting in the elections shall be by secret ballot. A
separate booth shall be set up for voting in accordance with
Section 23, Paragraph one of this Law.
(5) A voter shall select a ballot paper corresponding to the
list of candidates for which he or she shall vote, if he or she
so wishes, shall make the marks referred to in Section 23,
Paragraphs two and three of this Law therein and shall place the
ballot paper in the ballot envelope and seal the envelope. The
voter shall insert the sealed ballot envelope into the sealed
ballot box.
(6) The counting of votes shall be performed in accordance
with the procedures specified by the Central Election Commission.
A commission for the counting of votes in the composition of not
less than three persons shall be set up for the counting of
votes.
(7) After counting of votes and completion of the vote
counting report, voter recording devices, registration envelopes,
lists of participating voters, all valid ballot papers, invalid
ballot papers together with the relevant ballot envelopes, unused
and invalid ballot envelopes, election procedure log, and vote
counting report shall be packed, sealed, and delivered
immediately to the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed
Forces for the transfer thereof to the Central Election
Commission.
(8) The election procedure in the region of the international
operation shall be supervised by the authorised person of the
Commander of the National Armed Forces.
(9) A soldier and national guardsman who wish to vote by post
shall do so in accordance with the procedures laid down in
Section 45 of this Law.
[6 February 2014; 18 January 2018; 23 September
2021]
Section 46. (1) A voter who has received the website
address for postal voting shall print out the voting materials
and select the ballot paper which corresponds to the list of
candidates for which he or she shall vote, if he or she so
wishes, he or she shall make the marks referred to in Section 23
of this Law and shall place the ballot paper in the ballot
envelope and seal the envelope.
(2) The voter shall insert the sealed ballot envelope into a
postal envelope together with the signed form in which he or she
confirms that he or she is voting in person and indicates his or
her given name, surname, and personal identity number. The voter
shall mark on the postal envelope that it contains a ballot
envelope and shall indicate his or her given name, surname, and
sequence number in the voter list for postal voting. The voter
shall immediately send the postal envelope to the polling station
commission which has been indicated in the voting materials
available at the website address sent.
[30 May 2002; 23 September 2021]
Section 47. (1) The polling station commission shall
perform the counting of votes in accordance with the procedures
laid down in Chapter IV of this Law.
(2) The polling station commission shall register the postal
envelopes received and store them unopened until commencing the
counting of votes. The polling station commission shall only
commence opening and counting of the envelopes received by post
after the voting has been completed in all polling stations
established abroad.
(3) The ballot envelopes received by post shall be counted
separately, preparing a separate vote counting report.
[9 March 2006; 23 September 2021]
Section 48. (1) In starting to count the envelopes
received by post, the postal envelopes shall be sorted into valid
and invalid postal envelopes without opening them.
(2) Such postal envelopes shall be deemed invalid which:
1) have been sent by voters who have not applied for postal
voting;
2) have been sent by voters who have voted at the polling
station;
3) do not bear the given name, surname, and sequential number
of the voter with which he or she has been registered in the
voter list for postal voting;
4) have been received after the commencement of the counting
of votes;
5) have been sent from the Republic of Latvia;
6) have been received from voters who have sent several postal
envelopes.
(3) Valid postal envelopes shall be placed together and a
notation shall be made in the voter list for postal voting that a
valid postal envelope has been received. The total number of
valid postal envelopes shall be recorded in the election
procedure log. Invalid postal envelopes shall not be opened but
the total number thereof shall be recorded in the election
procedure log.
(4) In opening a valid postal envelope, it shall be verified
whether it contains only one ballot envelope. If there are
several ballot envelopes in the postal envelope, all of them
shall be deemed invalid. A ballot envelope shall be deemed
invalid if it does not contain a signed form confirming that the
voter has voted in person.
[23 September 2021]
Chapter
V.1
Casting a Vote for Depositing Thereof
[6 February 2014 / See
Paragraph 3 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 48.1 (1) A voter may cast a vote for
the depositing thereof before the election day. Polling stations
where votes can be cast for the depositing thereof shall be
established in all local governments. In local governments where
there are more than 20 000 citizens with the voting right,
polling stations where it is possible to cast a vote for
depositing thereof shall be set up in a way to ensure that there
is one such polling station per whole number of 20 000 citizens
with the voting right. The working hours of the polling stations
on the relevant days shall be as follows: on Monday from 17.00 to
20.00; on Thursday from 9.00 to 12.00; on Friday from 10.00 to
16.00. During this time the polling station commission shall work
in a composition of not less than four persons.
(2) Inside the polling premises, a member of the polling
station commission who has previously ascertained online that
information on the person has been included in the electoral
register and that there is no notation therein on the
participation of this person in the relevant election of the
Saeima, shall make a notation in the electoral register
online on the participation of the voter in the election and
enter the given name, surname, and personal identity number of
the voter in the list of participating voters. The voter shall
sign the list of participating voters.
(21) If there is a notation in the electoral
register on the participation of the voter in the election, the
polling station commission shall contact the polling station
commission in which the voter has voted according to the
information in the electoral register. The polling station
commission in which the voter has voted previously shall annul
the entry made in the list of participating voters on the fact of
casting the vote for the depositing thereof.
(3) The voter shall receive from the polling station
commission the ballot papers of all the lists of candidates
nominated in the constituency, a registration envelope bearing
the voter's given name, surname, and sequence number in the list
of participating voters, and a ballot envelope which is sealed
with a seal of the relevant polling station commission.
(4) The voter shall, on his or her own, perform the activities
specified in Section 23 of this Law, place the sealed ballot
envelope in the registration envelope, seal it and give it to the
polling station commission which shall, in the presence of the
voter, stamp the registration envelope with the seal of the
relevant polling station commission and throw it in a sealed
ballot box.
(5) A voter who has cast a vote for the depositing thereof may
vote on the election day. The polling station commission to which
he or she has deposited a vote for the depositing thereof shall
annul the entry made in the list of participating voters on the
fact of casting the vote for the depositing thereof and the voter
shall vote in accordance with the procedures laid down in Chapter
III of this Law.
(6) When a polling station commission opens ballot boxes once
the elections are over (Section 31, Paragraph three), it shall
sort the registration envelopes into two groups - valid and
invalid envelopes. The registration envelope is invalid if the
relevant voter has voted again later, if it has not been stamped
with the seal of the relevant polling station commission, or if
it does not bear the voter's given name, surname, and sequence
number in the list of participating voters. The invalid
registration envelopes shall be counted and packaged unopened.
The polling station commission shall open the valid registration
envelopes and count the votes as specified in Chapter IV (Section
31, Paragraph four) of this Law.
[8 April 2021; 23 September 2021]
Chapter V2
Voting
Procedure in the Case of Disruption to Activity of the Electoral
Register Online
[23 September 2021]
Section 48.2 (1) If it is not possible to
ascertain that the information on the person is included in the
electoral register and a notation has not already been made on
the participation of this person in the election, voting shall
take place by using a registration envelope, and the relevant
voters shall be entered in a separate list of participating
voters.
(2) A voter shall, on his or her own, perform the activities
specified in Section 23 of this Law, place the sealed ballot
envelope in the registration envelope on which the polling
station commission has indicated his or her given name, surname,
and sequence number in the list of participating voters, seal the
registration envelope, and hand it over to the polling station
commission which shall stamp it with the seal of the relevant
polling station commission and throw it in a sealed ballot
box.
(3) As soon as it is possible to ascertain that the
information on the person has been included in the electoral
register and a notation has not been made therein on the
participation of the person in the election, the polling station
commission shall, without interfering with the voting, verify
this information according to separate lists of participating
voters, make a notation in the electoral register on the
participation of the voter in the election, and mark in the lists
of participating voters whether the vote of the person is
countable.
(4) After election the polling station commission shall open
ballot boxes and sort the registration envelopes into two groups
- valid and invalid envelopes. The registration envelope shall be
invalid if:
1) it does not bear the voter's given name, surname, and
sequential number in the list of participating voters;
2) it has not been stamped with the seal of the relevant
polling station commission;
3) the relevant person cannot be found in the electoral
register;
4) according to the information in the electoral register, the
relevant person has already voted.
(5) The invalid registration envelopes shall be counted and
packaged unopened. The polling station commission shall open the
valid registration envelopes and count the votes in accordance
with the procedures laid down in Chapter IV of this Law.
[23 September 2021]
Section 48.3 (1) If, after entering of the
information referred to in Section 31, Paragraph two of this Law
in the vote counting report, the polling station commission
establishes, prior to opening of the ballot box, that there
remains a significant number of voters in respect of whom it has
not been verified whether the information on the person has been
included in the electoral register and whether a notation has not
already been made therein on the participation of the person in
the relevant election, the polling station commission may
announce a break with the permission of the election commission
of the relevant local government. If the permission of the local
government election commission has been received to announce a
break, the polling station commission shall package or place
lists of participating voters in a separate sealed box prior to
announcing the break. The relevant election commission of the
local government may determine another place where to resume the
counting of the votes and to invite additional specialists from
among the voters to ensure the counting of votes.
(2) If voting has taken place by using registration envelopes
in a polling station abroad, the polling station commission shall
act in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Central
Election Commission.
[23 September 2021]
Chapter VI
Final Provisions
Section 49. The complete election results, also the
results regarding the number of votes received by each candidate
in each list of candidates in each polling station shall be
compiled within six months and published in a separate
publication which shall be freely available in State
libraries.
Section 50. After 10 days have passed after convening
of the newly elected Saeima, all the ballot papers shall
be destroyed but after publication of the election results in
accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 49 of this
Law, all the minutes of the election commissions shall be
deposited in the State Archives.
[26 March 1998]
Section 51. (1) The submitter of the list of candidates
and the nominated candidate have the right to appeal to the court
the decision of the Central Election Commission on the approval
of election results within three working days after the day of
taking thereof.
(2) Submission of the application to a court shall not suspend
the operation of the decision referred to in Paragraph one of
this Section.
[9 March 2006; 23 May 2019]
Section 52. Persons who hinder citizens from
participation in elections or conducting campaigns with violence,
fraud, threats, bribery or in other illegal ways, or have
knowingly submitted false information on themselves in the
documents referred to in Section 11 of this Law, or in any other
way falsified election documents, or have knowingly incorrectly
counted votes, or have not respected the secrecy of voting, or
have in other ways violated this Law shall be held liable as
provided for by law.
Section 52.1 (1) The Central Election
Commission shall, within five days after receipt of a criminal
conviction regarding violations of election rights, assess
whether there has been any impact on the distribution of seats in
the relevant election and shall take one of the following
decisions:
1) not to redistribute the seats among the candidates
registered in the relevant election;
2) to redistribute the seats in the Saeima among the
candidates registered in the relevant election.
(2) The decisions of the Central Election Commission referred
to in Paragraph one of this Section may be appealed to a court
within 10 days after the day of taking thereof.
(3) After the decision referred to in Paragraph one of this
Section has become incontestable, the Central Election Commission
shall deliver it to the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee
of the Saeima.
[9 March 2006]
Section 52.2 (1) Having received the
decision of the Central Election Commission on the redistribution
of the seats, the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee of
the Saeima shall announce this decision at the next
sitting of the Saeima.
(2) If the Saeima supports the decision of the Central
Election Commission, as of the moment of its announcement, the
mandate of the member of the Saeima specified in the
decision of the Central Election Commission shall expire and the
Presidium shall invite another person specified in the decision
to become a member of the Saeima.
[9 March 2006]
Section 53. (1) Expenses related to the preparation and
procedure of elections shall be covered from the State
budget.
(2) If the election of the Saeima takes place in the
case provided for in Article 48 of the Constitution, the Central
Election Commission shall commence the preparation of the
election in the amount of financing allocated for ensuring the
previous elections of the Saeima.
[14 July 2011]
Section 54. (1) In the case referred to in Section
13.1, Paragraph one of this Law, the application shall
be submitted to the Regional Administrative Court, whereas in the
case referred to in Section 35.1, Paragraph two,
Section 51, Paragraph one, and Section 52.1, Paragraph
two of this Law - to the Department of Administrative Cases of
the Senate of the Supreme Court.
(2) Court shall examine the case as the court of first
instance. The case shall be examined in the composition of three
judges.
(3) The court shall examine the case and take a ruling:
1) in the case referred to in Section 13.1,
Paragraph one, Section 35.1, Paragraph two, Section
51, Paragraph one of this Law - within seven days after receipt
of the application;
2) in the case referred to in Section 52.1,
Paragraph two of this Law - within 30 days after receipt of the
application.
(4) An applicant shall specify the justification for the
application. The burden of proof shall lie with the participants
to the administrative proceedings.
(5) If the law determines the time period for execution of any
procedural actions, however, the conditions of Paragraph three of
this Section would not be observed in executing the respective
procedural action within this time period, the judge (court)
shall determine a time period appropriate for execution of the
relevant procedural action.
(6) A ruling of the court, and also other decisions which are
taken in performing procedural actions for examination of the
submitted application or initiated case shall not be subject to
appeal.
[9 March 2006]
Section 55. The Saeima which has been elected in
the case provided for in Section 13 of this Constitution shall
convene the first sitting on the day specified by the Central
Election Commission.
[14 July 2011]
Transitional Provisions
[26 February 2009; 8 September
2011]
1. The new wording of Section 5, Clause 8 of this Law, the new
wording of Section 6, Paragraph three of this Law, the new
wording of Section 11, Clause 4, Sub-clauses "d" and "e" of this
Law, the new wording of Section 13, Paragraph three, Clause 9 of
this Law, the new wording of Section 16, Paragraph two of this
Law, the new wording of Section 18, Paragraph two of this Law,
the new wording of Section 29, Paragraph two of this Law,
amendments to Section 36 of this Law and the deletion of Section
37 of this Law shall come into force on 1 July 2009.
[8 September 2011]
2. In the election of the Saeima on 17 September 2011,
the local election commission shall determine one polling station
in each city, except for Rīga, Daugavpils, and Liepāja, and also
in each municipality where the election shall take place until
10.00 in the evening. The election commission of Rīga City shall
determine four of such polling stations, the election commission
of Daugavpils City - two of such polling stations, and the
election commission of Liepāja City - two of such polling
stations.
[8 September 2011]
3. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant
amendments to the law On the State Budget for 2014, the expenses
required for the introduction of Chapter V.1 of the
Law "Casting a Vote for Depositing Thereof" shall be covered from
the funds for unforeseen events.
[6 February 2014]
4. Not only the passport of the citizen of Latvia, but also
the identity card of the citizen of Latvia together with a voter
certificate shall serve as the personal identification document
of the voter in the election of the Saeima which takes
place in 2014 and in 2018. Such voter has the right to receive
the voter certificate who on 4 October 2014 or on 6 October 2018
accordingly holds a valid identity card of the citizen of Latvia,
but does not hold a valid passport of the citizen of Latvia, and
who has applied for receipt of the identity card or has received
the identity card by 11 September 2014 or by 13 September 2018
accordingly.
[14 July 2014; 13 July 2017]
5. In order to ensure the production of the voter certificates
referred to in Paragraph 4 of the Transitional Provisions of this
Law for the election of the Saeima which takes place in
2014, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs shall, on
12 September 2014, hand over to the Central Election Commission
the data of the Population Register as on 11 September 2014
regarding the citizens of Latvia who on 4 October 2014 will have
attained 18 years of age and who on the election day hold a valid
identity card of the citizen of Latvia, but do not hold a valid
passport of the citizen of Latvia.
[14 July 2014; 13 July 2017]
6. The Central Election Commission shall ensure the production
of the voter certificates referred to in Paragraph 4 of the
Transitional Provisions of this Law for the election of the
Saeima which takes place in 2014 and shall, on 18
September 2014, issue the produced voter certificates to the
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. The Office of
Citizenship and Migration Affairs shall ensure the production of
the voter certificates referred to in Paragraph 4 of the
Transitional Provisions of this Law for the election of the
Saeima which takes place in 2018.
[14 July 2014; 13 July 2017]
7. The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs shall
ensure the issuance of the voter certificates referred to in
Paragraph 4 of the Transitional Provisions of this Law at the
territorial divisions of the Office of Citizenship and Migration
Affairs from 22 September 2014 until 3 October 2014 or from 24
September 2018 until 5 October 2018 accordingly.
[14 July 2014; 13 July 2017]
8. A voter may receive the voter certificate in the
territorial division of the Office of Citizenship and Migration
Affairs where the identity card of the citizen of Latvia was
issued to the voter. The voter certificate shall be issued to the
voter in another regional division of the Office of Citizenship
and Migration Affairs if the voter has submitted the relevant
submission in writing to the relevant Office of Citizenship and
Migration Affairs by 22 September 2014 or 24 September 2018
accordingly.
[14 July 2014; 13 July 2017]
9. For the voter who has received the voter certificate, upon
submitting the passport of the citizen of Latvia within the time
period until 4 October 2014 or 6 October 2018 accordingly, the
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs shall make a notation
in the passport on the fact of issuing the voter certificate to
the voter.
[14 July 2014; 13 July 2017]
10. In the election of the Saeima which takes place in
2014 and 2018, a passport of the citizen of Latvia with a
notation on the fact of issuing the voter certificate shall be a
valid personal identification document of a voter, if presented
together with the voter certificate.
[14 July 2014; 13 July 2017]
11. The voter certificate referred to in Paragraph 4 of the
Transitional Provisions of this Law shall be handed over by the
voter to the polling station commission upon receipt of the
ballot papers and ballot envelope.
[14 July 2014]
12. In the election of the Saeima which takes place in
2022, Varakļāni municipality is included in the constituency of
Vidzeme.
[20 January 2022]
The Law shall come into force on the day following its
proclamation.
The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 25 May
1995.
President G. Ulmanis
Rīga, 6 June 1995
1 The Parliament of the Republic of
Latvia
Translation © 2022 Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre)