Info

Estonia

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	b. No, existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	Constituencies are determined by law.
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	d. Indirectly elected by legislature
Comments:	The President of the Republic shall be elected by the Riigikogu. If the Riigikogu fails to elect the President of the Republic, an electoral body shall elect the President. There are three rounds of voting in the Riigikogu (Parliament). If none of the candidates receives two thirds of the votes, the chairman of Riigikogu convenes an electoral body comprised of the members of the Riigikogu and representatives of the local government councils, who then elect the President.
Source:	President of the Republic Election Act, art. 1, 16-21; 25-26
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	c. Indirectly elected by legislature/chosen by parliament
Comments:	The President of the Republic shall, within fourteen days after the resignation of the Government of the Republic, designate a candidate for Prime Minister to whom the President of the Republic shall assign the task of forming a new government. The candidate for Prime Minister shall, within fourteen days after receiving the task of forming a new government, present the bases for the formation of the forthcoming government to the Riigikogu, after which the Riigikogu shall decide, without debate and by an open vote, whether to authorise the candidate for Prime Minister to form a government.
Source:	Constitution, art. 89
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, art. 77-85
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, art. 59-60
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	g. List Proportional Representation
Comments:
Source:	Riigikogu (Parliament) Election Act, art. 29
Verified:	2009/11/11

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation d. Regulations or administrative rules
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections
Comments:	There are separate laws for every type of election.
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	c. Specially Appointed/Elected Electoral Tribunal
Comments:	Riigikogu Election Act: § 14.
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: National Election Committee
Website Address: http://www.vvk.ee

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/03

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level c. Local level d. Other kinds of elections (church, union, etc.) Please specify.
Comments:	d) Elections of the President of the Republic (both the parliament and the electoral body), elections of the Chairman and vice-Chairmen of the Riigikogu, Elections to the European Parliament, Referendums
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department. Riigikogu Election Act, Local Government Council Election Act, Election of the President of the Republic Act, Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act.
Verified:	2006/12/20

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department.
Verified:	2006/12/20

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	g) National Audit Office of Estonia
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department.
Verified:	2006/12/20

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	b. For a specified number of years
Comments:	4 years
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act § 10 (1)
Verified:	2006/12/20

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body d. National Government f. Local Governments h. Political parties/ candidates i. Media
Comments:	Depends largely on the specific elections.
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	e. Yes, conducted by the Government
Comments:	e) Not all data have have been collected on general civic education campaigns in order to give a definitive answer.
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:	18 years
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Estonia § 57, Riigikogu Election Act § 4 (1)
Verified:	2006/12/20

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship e. Other
Comments:	Riigikogu Election Act § 4: § 4. Right to vote and to stand as candidate (1) Estonian citizens who have attained 18 years of age by election day have the right to vote. (2) A person who has been divested of his or her active legal capacity by a court does not have the right to vote. (3) A person who has been convicted of a criminal offence by a court and is imprisoned shall not participate in voting. (4) Estonian citizens who have attained 21 years of age by the last day for the registration of candidates have the right to stand as candidates. (5) A person who has been divested of his or her active legal capacity by a court does not have the right to stand as a candidate. (6) A person who has been convicted of a criminal offence by a court and is imprisoned shall not stand as a candidate for election to the Riigikogu.
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act § 4
Verified:	2006/12/20

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	e. Other
Comments:	e) The Population Register
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act § 20, The Population Register Act
Verified:	2006/12/20

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	a) This is not really enforced and there are no sanctions.
Source:	Population Register Act § 391.
Verified:	2006/12/20

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections d. At specially designated polling stations f. By mail j. Other
Comments:	During advance polls (6-4 days before election day) there is at least 1 polling station in every municipality where people can vote irrespective of their designated polling station; in addition to this there are polling stations in every county centre open at 13-9 days before election day (15 stations in total). Voting is held (by written request of the voter) at voter’s home and place of residence. Voting by mail is limited to voters staying permanently or temporarily abroad. Voting is possible from home by Internet.
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act, art. 38-47, 52-54.
Verified:	2007/01/04

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	b. Citizens residing outside the country c. Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation) d. Members of the armed forces e. Students f. Diplomatic staff
Comments:
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act, chapter 8.
Verified:	2007/01/04

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	a. Embassies b. Consulates e. By mail f. Other
Comments:	f) Electronic voting
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act, art 49 (1), (2), 52, 53
Verified:	2007/01/04

VO011

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	b. Deposit requirement (specify amount) f. Other
Comments:	b) – 6000 kr for 2007 Riigikogu elections, f) Party must be registered,
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act § 30 (5), Riigikogu Election Act § 26 (1)
Verified:	2006/12/20

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship j. Other
Comments:	A person who has been divested of his or her active legal capacity to vote by the court; a person who has been convicted of a criminal offence and is serving a prison sentence.
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act § 4
Verified:	2006/12/20

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	b. In presidential elections c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments:	In presidential elections if the parliament has been unable to elect the president, any 21 members of the electoral body can nominate a candidate (presidential elections are not direct elections).
Source:	The Constitution, § 79 (5), Riigikogu Election Act § 27
Verified:	2006/12/20

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department
Verified:	2006/12/20

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Based on result of previous election
Comments:
Source:	The Political Party Act, § 125 (1) (2)
Verified:	2006/12/20

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The Political Party Act § 121 (1)
Verified:	2006/12/20

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act § 57
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	b. Always recounted d. By request
Comments:	d) If the county election committee or National Election Committee will find it necessary (for example if a formal complaint is filed)
Source:	Riigikogu Election Act § 60
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	g. Other (specify)
Comments:	g) It is up to the TV and radio stations and newspapers to specify the rules.
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department, Chancellery of the Riigikogu
Verified:	2006/12/21

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	a. Yes, in presidential elections b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department, Chancellery of the Riigikogu
Verified:	2006/12/21

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	g. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Arne Koitmäe, Elections Department, Chancellery of the Riigikogu
Verified:	2006/12/21

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, art. 56, 65, 105 and 162-168 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/11/29

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, art. 56, 65, 105 and 162-168; Decision of the Riigikogu to hold a referendum; The Referendum Act; Riigikogu Rules of Procedures Act, Chapters 13-14 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/11/29

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, art. 56, 65, 105 and 162-168; Decision of the Riigikogu to hold a referendum; The Referendum Act; Riigikogu Rules of Procedures Act, Chapters 13-14 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/11/29

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23