On Thursday, 16 April 2020 the Saeima supported the amendments to the Law on Dissolution of the Riga City Council, which provide for postponing of the Riga City Council elections to 29 August of this year. The election date to the Riga City Council has been repeatedly postponed due to the state's emergency situation and the restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
The amendments to the Law provide that the Central Election Commission has to re-announce the elections on 7 July.
Amendments to the Law on Dissolution of the Riga City Council shall come into force on the next day following its proclamation.
On 7 April the government has extended the state of emergency until 12 May this year, thus also affecting the preparation of the Riga City Council elections scheduled previously to 6 June.
For the extraordinary elections to the Riga City Council each voter will be registered at his/her polling station, which must be voted in. On Election Day, polling stations will be open from at 7.00 to 22.00. It will be possible to vote during early voting period three days before the election day. As well, voters who will not be able to attend polling stations for health reasons will be able to apply for a vote for voting at their place of residence.
Citizens of Latvia and other member states of the European Union (EU), who have reached the age of 18, are registered in the Voter Register and who have registered place of residence in the administrative territory of Riga 90 days before the Election Day, or who own real estate in Riga registered in accordance with the procedures specified by law, have the right to participate in the Riga City Council elections.
Consequently, the right to participate in the elections of the Riga City Council on 29 August will be for voters who will have their registered residence in Riga on 31 May this year. If a voter in Riga owns real estate, to participate in the elections he or she will have to register for elections between 30 July and 15 August, either through the e-service for the change of polling station or by submitting an application in person at any authority for residence declaration of the Riga City.
The voting document in the Riga City Council elections will be a valid passport or identity card (eID). There will be no stamp put in the passport proving participation in the elections.
Candidate lists for the Riga City Council elections of 29 August can be submitted from 14 to 20 July. The lists of candidates will have to be submitted to the Riga City Election Commission. 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 may submit the candidate list for the elections to the Riga City Council.
Nationals of Latvia or other EU Member States who have reached at least 18 years of age and are registered in the Voters Register have the right to participate in local government elections as candidates. In order to stand in the elections to the Riga City Council, the person must meet at least one of these conditions on the day of the submission of the list of candidates – 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.
16 April 2020
Information department of the Central Election Commission
Phone +371 67814900