At the conclusion of the candidates lists submitting for the elections to the Riga City Council of 29 August, 15 lists of candidates have been submitted, containing in total 718 candidates for seats in the Riga City Council. Voters can find more about the submitted lists of candidates, the pre-election programmes and the information about candidates on the website of the Central Election Commission (CEC) - https://rd2020.cvk.lv, and during the election week - also at polling stations.
The lists of candidates for the Riga City Council were submitted by "For Development/For!, "PROGRESSIVE" (Attīstībai/Par!, "PROGRESĪVIE"), New Conservative Party (Jaunā konservatīvā partija), Party "Honour to Serve Riga " (Partija "Gods kalpot Rīgai"), "Harmony" the Social Democratic Party ("Saskaņa" sociāldemokrātiskā partija), the National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK", the Latvian Association of Regions (Nacionālā apvienība "Visu Latvijai!"-"Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK", Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība), the New UNITY (Jaunā VIENOTĪBA), the Union of Greens and Farmers (Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība), Political party "Alternative" (Politiskā partija "Alternative"), Party "United For Latvia" (Partija "Vienoti Latvijai"), "Latvian Russian Union" ("Latvijas Krievu savienība"), "Centre Party" ("Centra Partija"), "Action Party" (Rīcības partija), the National Unity JUSTICE (Nacionālā Savienība TAISNĪGUMS), the New Harmony (Jaunā Saskaņa) and the Political Party "KPV LV" (Politiskā partija "KPV LV").
More than two-thirds of the candidates, or 70.3%, are men and 29.7% are women. The youngest candidate is 18 years old and the oldest is 90 years old. The average age of candidates is 45.6 years. The majority, or 76.7% of the candidates, have higher education.
A majority or 70.2% of candidates have indicated that their declared place of residence is Riga, 19.9% work in the capital, 3.3% of candidates own real estate in Riga. Some of the candidates have indicated compliance with various characteristics – 1.4% live and own real estate in Riga, 1.9% live and work in Riga, 1.9% live, work and own real estate in this municipality, while 1.3% work and own real estate in Riga.
The submission of lists of candidates for the Riga City Council elections took place from 14 to 20 July. 4 to 20 July. A registered political party, a registered association of registered political parties, as well as two or more registered political parties that have not formed a registered association of political parties could submit the lists of candidates for the elections to the Riga City Council.
The right to stand as candidates in local government elections have citizens of Latvia or other member states of the European Union who have reached at least 18 years of age on the election day, are registered in the Latvian Voter register and who are not subject to the restrictions on candidacy specified in the Law.
In order to stand in Riga City Council elections, on the day of the submission of the list of candidates, the candidate must meet at least one of these conditions – he or she must have a registered place of residence in Riga without interruption for the last 10 months, he or she must have worked as a worker or self-employed person for at least the last four months or he or she has to own real estate in Riga.
In the elections to the Riga City Council, there will be no numbers for the lists of candidates, but the order in which ballot papers are sorted at polling stations (which list will be on top) shall be determined by drawing lots.
For reference:
- In the municipal elections of 3 June 2017, in Riga 11 lists were submitted, which contained in total 586 candidates. In the last elections there were 426 505 voters in Riga, 250 445 or 58.7% of which voted.
- On Election Day, 29 August, polling stations will be open from 7.00 to 22.00. Three days before the elections it will be possible to vote early:
- on Wednesday, 26 August, from 16.00 – 21.00;
- on Thursday, 27 August, from 9.00 – 16.00;
- on Friday, 28 August, from 12.00 – 20.00.
- Citizens of Latvia and other member states of the European Union will have the right to participate in the Riga City Council elections, who have reached the age of 18, and who have registered place of residence in the administrative territory of Riga 90 days before the election day (on 31 May of this year), or who own real estate in the administrative territory of Riga.
- To change polling station or to register for voting in Riga if a voter has real estate in the municipality, will be able from 30 July to 15 August by using the PMLP e-service, or submitting an application by post, e-mail, or on the portal Latvija.lv to any authority for residence declaration of the Riga City.
- If a voter will not be able to attend the polling station due to health reasons, it will be possible to vote at the voter’s place of residence, if the voter during the elections will be on the territory of Riga. Suspected and accused persons who are in custody in Riga will also be able to apply for a vote at their location.
- In order to reduce the risks of the spread of the virus infection Covid-19 in the Riga City Council elections on 29 August, the CEC has approved the Recommendations on the Covid-19 infection prevention at the polling stations in the Riga City Council elections. When staying at a polling station, voters will have to keep a two-meter distance, disinfect their hands, cover their mouth and nose. Voters who won't have their face covered will be given a disposable face protective mask at the polling station. Voters are invited to use their own writing tools at the polling station, but if the voter does not have such capabilities, the polling station will provide each voter with a pen.
20.07.2020.
CEC Information Department