One of the most common questions CVK has received regarding the elections has been whether persons who are not declared in Riga may participate in the upcoming Riga City Council elections.
"From today, July 30, to August 15, the voting precinct can be changed. Those voters who are not declared in Riga, but own real estate in this municipality, can register for voting in Riga City Council elections during this period. Everyone can find out their precinct on the PMLP e-service or by calling the CVK informative line 67049999," said Laura Zaharova.
The same arrangements can also be used by Riga inhabitants who simply want to change to a more convenient location. It is also recommended to be done by 15 August.
In this election, it is possible to vote at any station. However, it should be taken into account that if a voter comes to a station for which he/she is not listed, it will be necessary to wait for the employees of the station to be able to contact the station where he/she is listed. This needs to be done to exchange voter data and check whether a person has already voted.
Similarly, CVK has also received questions about the possibility of voting abroad in these elections.
"The legislature has not provided for the possibility of voting abroad in these extraordinary elections, nor does it have the possibility to vote electronically. In order to participate in this election, it is necessary to arrive at one of the stations in Riga. Or if it is not possible to go to the site because of the state of health, it is possible to apply for voting from one's respective location in Riga," said Zaharova.
The Riga City Council's emergency elections will take place on August 29, but three days prior it will be possible to vote during limited hours:
- Wednesday August 26 , 16.00 – 21.00;
- Thursday August 27 , 9.00 – 16.00;
- Friday, August 28, 12.00 – 20.00.
The CVKalso recalls that when staying at the station, voters will have to follow a two-meter distance, disinfect their hands, and use their mouth and nose protectors.
In the meantime, Juris Kokin, head of the Riga Election Commission, adds that the application to the polling stations is closed and the precinct commissions will be completed at the beginning of next week.
15 political forces, who have submitted their lists of candidates, have applied for the Riga City Council's emergency elections.
In February this year, the Latvian Saeima voted to dismiss the Riga City Council. The extraordinary elections were originally planned for April but following the state of emergency the date was changed several times until it was set to August 29.
