Latvia
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-Republic
-Unicameral (4 years)
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
2,165,165
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
64,589㎢
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
1,552,235
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-10-10 13
Number of registered political parties-References:
- Number of polling stations
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Average number of voters per polling station
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting age
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
18 years old.
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
President Andris BERZINS
Elected Offices-References:
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-10-10 List Proportional Representation
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
4 years
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
Latvian parliamentary election
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24 4 October 2014
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- Harmony
- Unity
- Union of Greens and Farmers
- National Alliance
- For Latvia from the Heart
- Latvian Association of Regions
- Latvian Russian Union
- United for Latvia
- Latvian Development
- New Conservative Party
Political parties in the elections-References:
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- Harmony (24 seats)
- Unity (23 seats)
- Union of Greens and Farmers (21 seats)
- National Alliance (17 seats)
- For Latvia from the Heart (7 seats)
- Latvian Association of Regions (8 seats)
Number of elected candidates-References:
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
58.85%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-10-10 913491
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
Part of Constitution
-
Separate legislation
- Regulations or administrative rules
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10
The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia as amended on 8 April 2009, art. 48, 50, 64, 68, 72, 74, 77-80:
48. The President shall be entitled to propose the dissolution of the Saeima. Following this proposal, a national referendum shall be held. If in the referendum more than half of the votes are cast in favour of dissolution, the Saeima shall be considered dissolved, new elections called, and such elections held no later than two months after the date of the dissolution of the Saeima.
50. If in the referendum more than half of the votes are cast against the dissolution of the Saeima, then the President shall be deemed to be removed from office, and the Saeima shall elect a new President to serve for the remaining term of office of the President so removed.
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia as amended on 8 April 2009, art. 48, 50, 68, 72, 74, 77-79:
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 Law: Law on National Referendum and Initiation of Legislation as amended till 26 February 2009, art. 2, ch. 4.
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 No
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
The Central Election Commission of Latvia
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
to ensure that the Saeima Election Law,
the Law on Elections to the European Parliament, the City Council
and Regional Council Election Law, the Law on National Referendum and
Initiation of Legislation are uniformly and properly applied and strictly
enforced
-
to inform and educate voters and inhabitants
of Latvia about the voting procedure at elections or national referendums,
including referendums on legislative initiatives
-
to determine the distribution of
state-allocated financial resources among local election commissions;
coordinate and administer the work of local election commissions
- to provide training for members of local election commissions;
Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions-References:
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
Independent
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
Costs arising from the
preparation and holding of the elections shall be covered from the state
budget.
-
Annually, before the
commencement of each financial year, the Saeima shall determine the State
Revenues and Expenditures Budget, the draft of which shall be submitted to the
Saeima by the Cabinet.
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
The State
Audit Office, which is an independent, collegial, supreme audit institution in
the Republic of Latvia, subject only to law
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
9 members
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24 4 years
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
The
Chairperson and seven Commission members are elected by Saeima, while one
member among the judges is elected by the Supreme Court at its general meeting.
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-12-19 N/A
Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 divided into 26 administrative districts (administrat?vais rajons; pl. administrat?vie rajoni) and 7 cities under state jurisdiction
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
Latvia shall be
divided into five constituencies for the Saeima elections: 1) Riga, 2) Vidzeme,
3) Latgale, 4) Kurzeme, 5) Zemgale.
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- Geographic size of district
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
The boundaries are
determined in the Saeima Election Law which is adopted by the Saeima as the
legislative body of the Republic of Latvia.
Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:
- Requirements on the right to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
Citizens of Latvia and citizens of the European Union
who have reached the age of 18
-
In order to participate in local elections
in Latvia, an EU citizen has to be registered in the Population Register of
Latvia 90 days prior to the elections.
-
Voting citizens have the rights to vote on
the administrative territory of the local government where their place of
residence has been registered 90 days prior to the Election Day or on the
administrative territory of the local government where they own real estate
registered in the respective municipality pursuant to the law.
Requirements on the right to vote-References:
- Reasons for having the right to vote revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral Eligibility
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the eligibility revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirements for party registration
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 Deposit requirement - Other
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- Registered political parties or their associations, any member of the respective city or region council, or not less than 10 Latvian citizens eligible to vote have the right to nominate their representatives to the city or regional election commission.
A candidate to the council can be included in
the candidate list of the administrative territory if by the day of the
submission of the candidate lists he/she complies with at least one of the
following conditions:
1)
he/she had been registered at a place of residence in the administrative
territory of the respective local government for at least the recent 10 months;
2)
he/she had been working on the administrative territory of the local government
(as an employee or as a self-employed person according to the Law On National
Social Insurance) for at least the recent 4 months;
3)
he/she owns real estate which was registered in the territory of the respective
local government pursuant to the law.
According
to the provisions of this law, a candidate is eligible to stand for the
election only in one council in the Republic of Latvia.
The
candidate has to be the citizen of the Republic of Latvia or an EU citizen,
registered in the Electoral Register and has to be at least 18 years old on the
day of election.
?
Candidate nomination-References:
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- Requirement
: A candidate to the council can be included in the candidate list of the administrative territory if
by the day of the submission of the candidate lists he/she complies with at
least one of the following conditions:
1)
he/she had been registered at a place of residence in the administrative
territory of the respective local government for at least the recent 10 months;
2)
he/she had been working on the administrative territory of the local government
(as an employee or as a self-employed person according to the Law On National
Social Insurance) for at least the recent 4 months;
3)
he/she owns real estate which was registered in the territory of the respective
local government pursuant to the law.
According
to the provisions of this law, a candidate is eligible to stand for the
election only in one council in the Republic of Latvia.
The
candidate has to be the citizen of the Republic of Latvia or an EU citizen,
registered in the Electoral Register and has to be at least 18 years old on the
day of election.
- Restriction/Prohibition on candidate registration
:
1) have been placed under statutory trusteeship
by the court; 2) are serving a court sentence in a penitentiary; 3) have been
convicted of an intentionally committed criminal offence except in cases when
persons have been rehabilitated or their conviction has been expunged or
vacated; 4) have committed a criminal offence set forth in the Criminal Law in
a state of mental incapacity or a state of diminished mental capacity or who,
after committing a criminal offence, have developed a mental disorder and thus
are incapable of taking or controlling a conscious action and as a result have
been subjected to compulsory medical measures, or whose cases have been
dismissed without applying such compulsory medical measures; 5) belong to the
salaried staff of the state security, intelligence or counterintelligence
services of a foreign country or have belonged to the salaried staff of the
state security, intelligence or counterintelligence services of the USSR or the
Latvian SSR except persons who have been employed at the Planning, Finance or
Administrative Departments of the Committee for State Security of the USSR or
the Latvian SSR; 6) after 13 January 1991 have been active in the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union (the Communist Party of Latvia), the International
Front of the Working People of the Latvian SSR, the United Board of Working
Bodies, the Organisation of War and Labour Veterans, the All-Latvia Salvation
Committee or its regional committees; 7) have been sentenced with a prohibition
to stand as a candidate in the elections of the Saeima, European Parliament,
city or municipality councils unless they have been rehabilitated or their
conviction has been expunged or vacated.
Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:
- Candidate registration deposit
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- Amount of fee
: EUR 1,400
Candidate registration deposit-References:
- Uncontested Election
- Last Updated : 2016-12-19 N/A
Uncontested Election -References:
- Preparation of the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16
Yes
Preparation of the voters list-References:
- Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 Extracted from a population/civil registry
Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:
- Who is responsible for the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 Processing of data included on the Register and maintenance of the Register shall be carried out by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Who is responsible for the voters list -References:
- Voters list preparation procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Inspection and objection procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Definition
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Period
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
120 days
prior to the Election Day
Period -References:
- Methods
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
On the election day and one day prior the election day
a complete agitation ban is in force in Latvia. 30 days before the election day
the pre-election campaign shall stop in television.
Methods-References:
- Prohibited forms of campaigning
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is not permitted to campaign
- Campaign Finance
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Campaign expense limit
- Income and expenditure of campaign expense
- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure
- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions
- Reimbursement of campaign expense
- Presiding officers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① How many of officers in a polling station
② Roles of each officer
③ How we nominate the officers
- Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Polling station location criteria
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting hours
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
7A.M.-10P.M.
Voting hours-References:
- Voting
- Last Updated : 2016-10-10 When participating in local elections in Latvia, a valid person identification document - a passport or an electronic identification card (eID card) has to be presented in the polling station.
Voting -References:
- Ballot Paper
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots
② What has to be included in the ballot paper?
③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper
④ Valid and invalid ballot paper
- Voting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start ofvoting
- Process of voting
- End of voting
- Marking method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
① Who are subjected to do
-
Three (3) days prior the Election Day for a few hours it is
possible to attend the polling stations and vote beforehand.
-
If the voter is
ill, and willing to vote, somebody goes to their homes.
-
Voters who are not be able to get to the polling stations
because of their health can apply for the voting in their residence starting
from the fifth day prior the election day. This opportunity can be used only in
case the voter is located in the territory of the respective polling station on
the Election Day.
-
Only citizens
being abroad may vote by mail.
-
Electors residing in a foreign country at
the time of the elections, shall cast their votes in person by arriving at the
polling stations established by the Central Election Commission in the
consulates of the Republic of Latvia as recommended by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, or vote by mail.
-
If being
physical handicapped prevents an elector from voting, then, a member of their
family, or another trustworthy person, can mark the ballot paper according to
word-of-mouth instructions given by the voter. The person marking the ballot
must not be a member of the relevant election commission.
Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)-References:
- Counting Location
- Last Updated : 2016-08-25
Polling stations.
The preliminary counting of
votes shall start immediately after the polling stations have closed. Votes
shall be counted at an open meeting of the polling station commission.
Counting Location-References:
- Counting period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Vote counting method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start of counting
- Process of counting
- End of counting
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
Always recounted. The valid
ballot papers shall be grouped according to the names of the lists of
candidates. Then 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, in accordance with the procedure set by the Central
Election Commission, shall promptly announce the number of votes cast for each
list of candidates.
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- Citizens residing outside the country
- Citizens outside the country including those on vacation
- Members of the armed forces
- Students
- Diplomatic staff
Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:
- Overseas voters list preparation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Where to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods used to transport ballot papers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Apportioning of National Assembly seats
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Results Announcement
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Is the announcement of preliminary result required?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Deadline for announcement of final results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reason for holding a by- or re-election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- By-election dates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral process
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
Candidates who are in the
list of candidates of the same title have the right to use the following free
of charge for pre-election campaign in the Latvian Radio and Latvian
Television: 1) 10 minutes during the time period from the 29th day until the
8th day before the election day; and 2) 10 minutes during the time period from
the 7th day until the penultimate day before the election day.
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
Public TV LTV1 provided an
overall balanced coverage of the main contestants, and was largely in a neutral
tone in its news, current affairs’ programmes and debates.LTV1 fulfilled its
obligation to provide political parties with free airtime31 and organized nine
election debates, three of them with all 13 contenders.
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24 1 day
Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 EMB
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 The submitters of candidatelists have the right to read the vote-counting minutes and contest these minutes by presenting their objections to the Central Election Commission within three days after the election results, as recorded in the vote-counting minutes have been approved.The Central Election Commission shall examine the complaint and take a decision within three days.
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-19 N/A
Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Direct public funding
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
Indirect. Political
organizations (parties) may be financed by: 1) membership fees and joining
fees; 2) gifts (donations) from natural persons; 3) the income earned by
economic activities of the relevant political organization (party); and/or 4)
other sources of financing, except by those prohibited to finance political organizations
(parties) by law. Law on Pre-election Campaign: Section 2: (1) Candidates who
are in a list of candidates of the same title have the right to use the
broadcasting time of the Latvian Radio and Latvian Television for pre-election
campaign free of charge in accordance with the procedures and the amount
stipulated in this Law if they have submitted a statement regarding the
submission of the list of candidates at least 40 days before the election day.
- If so, how this fund will be allocated
Direct public funding-References:
- Private funding of political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- If so, is there limit on the amount a donor can contribute to candidate or political party
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
- The amount of membership fees and the entrance fee and the procedure
of their payment shall be regulated by the statutes of the respective political
organization (party). A political organization (party) member’s total contributions
in the form of entrance fee, membership fees and gifts (donations) to one
political organization (party) must not exceed 100 minimum monthly salaries
over a calendar year.
- Within a period of 15 days after the receipt of the gift (donation)
the political organization (party) shall, in accordance with the procedures
specified by the Cabinet, publish information regarding such gift (donation) on
a separate Internet page, indicating its type, amount, date of receipt, as well
as the natural person who has given the gift (donation). The expenses incurred
by publishing the referred to information on the Internet shall be covered from
the State budget.
- Anonymous gifts (donations) are prohibited.
-
The Head of the Corruption
Prevention and Combating Bureau shall be obliged to charge the respective
political organization (party) to repay the illegally acquired financial assets
to the payer thereof and to return property to the donor thereof within the
period of 30 days. If the political organization (party) has not repaid the
illegally acquired financial assets to the payer thereof or returned property
to the donor thereof within the period of 30 days from the moment of
notification of a respective decision, the Head of the Corruption Prevention
and Combating Bureau shall be obliged to charge the respective political
organization (party) to transfer the illegally acquired financial assets into
the state budget and to transfer the property to the state within the period of
30 days. Upon a motivated request from the respective political organization
(party) the Head of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau may divide
the repayment of financial assets into periods or extend the period of
repayment of financial assets, but no longer than for a period of 90 days.
Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Which electoral processes are using ICTs?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
Voter
registration and identification: electoral register is used for
local elections and European elections, is extracted from a population registry,
and is created by the Office of Citizenship and Migration affairs. But the electoral register is not used for registration of voters
in parliamentary elections or referendums. Voters are registered in a polling
station by making a mark in their passports.
-
E-voting: E-voting is not used but feasibility studies and/or
tests are being carried out.
-
Processing
of results: Between 2001
and 2011 voting results were entered into an electronic tabulation system
offline. The online system was adopted in 2011.
-
Election
administration: Open Source Systems have never been considered due to security and
warranty risks.
Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:
- When it was introduced
- Last Updated : 2016-12-19 N/A
When it was introduced-References:
- Gender equality
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 Female Population: 1,161,361 (July 2014 est)
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-12-19 Is Latvia a signatory to CRPD: Yes (18 July 2008)
· Has Latvia ratified CRPD: Yes (1 March 2010)
· Population with a disability: 305,147 (est.)
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-10-10 Continuously
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-24
-
Conducted by the
National Electoral Management Body, NGOs/ Civic Organizations, the Media
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-19 N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-11-16 Following an official invitation to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 4 October 2014, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 10 to 12 June 2014, and in accordance with its mandate, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Assessment Mission (EAM) for these elections. The EAM is planning to commence its activities in Riga on 16 September 2014.
International observation-References:
- Partnerships/MoUs
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International Activities
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Major challenges to elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Measures taken to deal with those Challenges
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03