The procedures for local government elections and the procedures for voter registration are specified in the Municipality Council Election Law and in the Electoral Register Law.
Citizens of Latvia and other Member States of the European Union over the age of 18 have the right to participate in local government elections. All voters must be registered in the Electoral register.
Citizens of the European Union must be registered in the Latvian Population Register 90 days before the elections in order to participate in local government elections in Latvia.
Voters have the right to vote in the constituency where they have their registered place of residence 90 days before the election day or in the municipality where they own real estate.
If a voter wants to take the opportunity to vote in the constituency where he/she owns real estate, the voter has to apply for a change of the constituency no sooner than 70 days and no later than 9 days before the election.
The change of the constituency may be applied for both in-person at the authority for residence declaration of any local government and on the Internet, using the e-service of changing the polling station of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Starting with the 2021 municipal elections, the polling station's working time on the election day, which is Saturday, will be between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. There is an opportunity to vote early three days before the elections at times specified by law. Voters who are unable to reach the station due to health reasons may apply for voting at their place of residence.
From the 2021 municipal elections, voters staying abroad will be able to take part in the elections by post. It will be possible to apply for postal voting from the 70th day before the election day, but not later than 42 days before the elections.
Municipal elections take place every four years during the first week of June. The next municipal elections will take place in 2021.