| [With EMBs] Central Election Commission of the Republic of Latvia |
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| Last updated 2021-12-31 |
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2021 Latvian municipal elections (Central Election Commission of the Republic of Latvia)
The focus of Latvian municipal elections was put on the mitigation of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Latvia has been working on emergency measures to ensure safe elections. In municipal elections across Latvia, for the first time, voters were given the opportunity to vote at any polling station in their municipality. Here the Secretariat shares the interview with the CEC discussing the election management in the midst of COVID-19. ▶Question 1: Which election(s) were held in 2021 in Latvia? ▶Answer: As a result of the administrative territorial reform that reduced the 110 municipalities and 9 cities to 42 municipalities, the number of local governments and councilors to be elected has fallen by almost half. The elections took place in 40 municipalities across Latvia on 5 June, while elections in two more municipalities (Varaklani and Rezekne) were held on 11 September 2021 in compliance with the Constitutional Court order. Elections in Riga did not take place in 2021 since the extraordinary elections to the Riga City Council were held last year, allowing the City Council to carry on until the next elections in 2025. ▶Question 2: How did COVID-19 change the election process and election management? ▶Answer: - Changes in the overall election process: Election campaigns were significantly limited due to the prohibition on all public gatherings and events. Campaigning indoors was prohibited except the placement of campaign materials. And a maximum of 10 persons was allowed for on-site election campaigning in public places. - Changes in the overall election management: An online voter registration was introduced for the first time in the elections, which allowed residents to vote at any polling station in their municipality. The CEC of Latvia approved the Recommendations for the Prevention of COVID-19 Infection, according to which at least 4 m2 of the area of the polling station had to be provided per person; distance of 2 meters had to be observed; wearing face masks at the polling station was mandatory, etc. Drive-thru voting was also introduced for the first time. - Procedure or system newly adopted: Members and employees of election commissions have the right to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a priority group. While working at the polling stations, the polling station commission was provided with personal protective equipments. - Changes in voter turnout during COVID-19: Voter turnout at local elections of 2021 reached a record low (34%), however there would be no grounds to regard the COVID-19 pandemic fears as the determining factor.
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