Info

Latvia

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Latvia is divided into five constituencies for the Saeima elections: Riga, Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, articles 7(1).
Verified:	2008/02/06

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	e. Geographic size of district g. Other
Comments:	The Saeima Election Law determines the boundaries. Latvia shall be divided into five constituencies for the Saeima elections: Riga, Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, Zemgale. These are cultural and historical regions. The Riga constituency includes the city of Riga and voters abroad; the Vidzeme constituency includes the Aluksne, Cesis and Gulbene districts, Jurmala city, the Limbazi, Madona and Ogre districts, the Riga district (except Riga city), the Valka and Valmiera districts; the Latgale constituency includes the Balvi district, the Daugavpils district and city, the Kraslava, Ludza and Preili districts, the Rezekne district and Rezekne city; the Kurzeme constituency includes the Kuldiga district, the Liepaja district and city, the Saldus and Talsi districts, the Ventspils district and city; the Zemgale constituency includes the Aizkraukle, Bauska, Dobele and Jekabpils districts, the Jelgava district and city and the Tukums district.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, article 7.
Verified:	2008/02/06

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	The Saeima Election Law determines the boundaries: The Riga constituency includes the city of Riga; the Vidzeme constituency includes the Aluksne, Cesis and Gulbene districts, Jurmala city, the LimbaÇi, Madona and Ogre districts, the Riga district (except Riga city), the Valka and Valmiera districts; the Latgale constituency includes the Balvi district, the Daugavpils district and city, the Kraslava, Ludza and Preili districts, the Rezekne district and Rezekne city; the Kurzeme constituency includes the Kuldiga district, the Liepaja district and city, the Saldus and Talsi districts, the Ventspils district and city; the Zemgale constituency includes the Aizkraukle, Bauska, Dobele and Jekabpils districts, the Jelgava district and city and the Tukums district.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, article 7.
Verified:	2008/02/06

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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 shall be elected by the Saeima for a four-year term.
Source:	Constitution, chapter III, article 35.
Verified:	2002/09/09

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	Appointed by the President.
Source:	Constitution, chapter IV, article 56.
Verified:	2008/02/06

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, chapter III.
Verified:	2002/08/22

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, chapter II.
Verified:	2002/08/22

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:	Latvia is divided into separate electoral districts. The number of representatives to the Saeima, to be elected from each district, shall be proportional to the number of electors in each district. Article 7 (1) Latvia shall be divided into five constituencies for the Saeima elections: Riga; Vidzeme; Latgale; Kurzeme and Zemgale.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, article 7.
Verified:	2008/02/06

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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):	b. Separate legislation
Comments:	Electoral procedure for the Saiema (Parliament) is stipulated by the Saeima (Parliament) Election Law. Several conditions of elections are included in the Constitution.
Source:	Central Election Commission
Verified:	2008/02/05

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections
Comments:
Source:	The Saeima Election Law
Verified:	2002/09/09

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:	Citizens of Latvia who have reached the age of 18 by the election day, have the right to vote unless any of the restrictions set in Article 2 of this Law apply.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, Chapter I, article 1.
Verified:	2008/02/06

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	b. EMB
Comments:
Source:	Law on Central Election Commission, Chapter II, article 6(8).
Verified:	2002/08/22

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Electoral Management

EM001

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

Name of Institution: Central Election Commission
Website Address: www.cvk.lv

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/05

(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
Comments:	There are no elected regional governments in Latvia.
Source:	Law on the Central Election Commission, Chapter I, article 1.
Verified:	2008/02/06

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:	It is the Saeima which determines the budget of the Central Election Commission.
Source:	Constitution, chapter V, article 66.
Verified:	2008/02/06

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	The expentitures are controlled by the State Audit Office.
Source:	Central Election Commission
Verified:	2008/02/06

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:	Not later than six months after its convening, the Saeima shall establish a Central Election Commission. The Saeima shall be elected for a term of 4 years.
Source:	Law on the Central Election Commission, chapter I, article 1, Constitution, chapter II, article 10.
Verified:	2008/02/06

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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
Comments:
Source:	Law on the Central Election Commission, chapter II, article 6.
Verified:	2008/02/06

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	a. Continuously
Comments:	Activities are intensified during the pre-elections period.
Source:	Central Election Commission.
Verified:	2002/09/09

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 h. Yes, conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations j. Yes, conducted by the Media
Comments:
Source:	Central Election Commission.
Verified:	2008/02/06

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, article 1.
Verified:	2008/02/06

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
Comments:	Citizens of Latvia who have reached the age of 18 by Election Day have the right to vote unless any of the restrictions specified in Article 2 of this Law apply.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, article 1.
Verified:	2008/02/06

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	f. No information available
Comments:	There is no voter registration.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, article 3.
Verified:	2002/09/09

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	c. No information available
Comments:	There is no voter register.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter III, article 20.
Verified:	2002/09/09

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	c. At any polling station in the same country e. At mobile polling stations f. By mail h. By proxy
Comments:	c) Because there is no voter register. e) If the voter is ill, and willing to vote, somebody goes to their homes. f) Only citizens being abroad may vote by mail. h) 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.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, articles: 3, 22, 24, 25 and 43.
Verified:	2008/02/06

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:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter V, articles 43 and 44.
Verified:	2002/09/09

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	b. Consulates e. By mail
Comments:	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.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter V, articles 43 and 44.
Verified:	2008/02/06

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter IV.
Verified:	2002/09/09

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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):	a. Signature requirement (specify requirement) b. Deposit requirement (specify amount) f. Other
Comments:	a) A list of candidates shall be submitted by a person authorised by the decision-making body of the relevant political organisation (party) or the association of political organisations (parties). b) The Central Election Commission shall only register the lists of candidates, if the persons submitting these lists have made a security deposit of 1.000 Lats (2110 USD) in the Central Election Commission fund. If no candidate is elected from the list, the Central Election Commission shall transfer the security deposit to the state budget. f) Candidate lists may be submitted by a legally registered political organisation (party) and by a legally registered association of political organisations (parties). Lists of candidates shall be accepted starting from the 80th day before Election Day, but the 60th day before Election Day shall be the last date to accept the said lists.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter III, articles 9.
Verified:	2008/02/14

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
Comments:	Any citizens of Latvia who has reached the age of 21 before Election Day may be elected to the parliament unless any of the restrictions specified the Saeima Election Law apply.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter I, article 4
Verified:	2008/02/14

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	a. Neither in presidential nor legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter II, article 9.
Verified:	2002/09/09

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	c. Indirect
Comments:
Source:	Law on Financing of Political Organizations (Parties), article 2.
Verified:	2008/02/14

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	a. Equal funding, regardless of size and previous performance
Comments:
Source:	Law on Pre-election Campaign before Saeima Elections and Elections to the European Parliament, article 5.
Verified:	2008/02/14

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Law on Financing Political Organizations (parties), article 2.
Verified:	2008/02/14

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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:	Votes shall be counted at an open meeting of the polling station commission.
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter IV, article 29.
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request
Comments:
Source:	The Saeima Election Law, chapter IV, article 351, chapter VI, article 51.
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:	Registration of the List of candidates for the elections Deputy candidates may use free broadcast time on the Latvian Radio and the Latvian Television for their election campaigning in accordance with the procedure established by the Law, if they have put in a reference about submitting of the lists of candidates at least 40 days before the election day. Source: Law on Pre-election Campaign before Saeima Elections and Elections to the European Parliament, article 2.
Source:	Central Election Commission
Verified:	2008/02/14

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2005/03/29

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:	Pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public on the election day. This stipulation is mandatory only for the Latvian Radio and the Latvian Television.
Source:	Law on Pre-election Campaign before Saeima Elections and Elections to the European Parliament, article 14.
Verified:	2008/02/14

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:	c: A national referendum shall be held if: the President of Latvia has suspended the promulgation of a law for two months, and during this period a petition by not less than one-tenth of the electorate has been received to put the suspended law to a national referendum; the Saeima has not adopted without change as to its content a draft law or a draft amendment to the Constitution submitted by not less than one-tenth of the electorate.
Source:	Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994, article 1. Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/03/07

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, 1922, Section 1-7 and 77; Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994, article 1. Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2005/03/21

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
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

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994, article 1. 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:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994, article 1. 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:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23