Latvia’s Central Election Commission (CVK) is considering approaching the Saeima with a proposal to amend legislation so that the parliament itself would decide on introducing manual vote counting in parliamentary elections, CVK Chair Māris Zviedris told journalists.
Zviedris noted that the CVK is currently reviewing several options. One is involving the legislator, while another is for the commission to make the decision itself. “As I have said before, we do not plan to make this decision in haste. There are several options, and the President also mentioned two possible paths yesterday — either involvement of the legislator or a decision by the CVK. We will consider both,” said Zviedris.
According to him, current projections suggest that the CVK may put forward a proposal to the Saeima and could send a letter as early as today to the Saeima’s Public Administration and Local Government Committee outlining the necessary legislative amendments.
Asked why involving the legislator might be the best solution, Zviedris explained that it would reduce speculation about the CVK’s motives. “If the decision is taken by the legislator, it significantly reduces the possibility of speculation about why the CVK chose a particular solution.
The CVK is not a single person — it is a collegial institution where opinions and votes may differ,”
he stressed.
In his view, following public calls by the country’s highest officials to consider manual vote counting, the logical next step would be action by the Saeima. “In our opinion, the parliament should respond, and we will ask it to assess the issue,” said the CVK chair.
Responding to remarks that such a move might appear as shifting responsibility onto the Saeima, Zviedris rejected the claim, saying the CVK is acting responsibly and conscientiously: “It can be interpreted in different ways, but we are sufficiently responsible and make decisions within the limits of the situation. Right now, a quick and rational decision must be taken so that no one can later reproach us.”
He also stressed that the CVK’s goal is to avoid any speculation about its work and to ensure voter confidence in the electoral process.
As previously reported, President Edgars Rinkēvičs, after reviewing information from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) about possible irregularities in IT procurement and their potential impact on the 2026 Saeima elections, emphasized that
state authority is legitimate only when it is based on free and fair elections.
In his view, a well-organised and transparent election process is a fundamental requirement of democracy that must not be overshadowed by doubts about security or credibility.
Rinkēvičs stated that the information disclosed by EPPO raises questions about election security and the reliability of vote counting. He stressed that society must be assured of a fair and secure electoral process in 2026 and called for a decision to switch to manual vote counting rather than relying on IT systems.
Zviedris told LETA on Monday that the CVK learned about the President’s call through the media and that the issue still requires careful evaluation. He emphasized that the commission does not intend to make a rushed or poorly considered decision.
According to Zviedris,
the CVK is prepared in any case to ensure manual vote counting if such a decision is taken.
He stressed that no additional funding would be required, as this scenario had already been considered and would not demand extra resources from the state budget.
He also noted that the CVK is currently awaiting responses from certain law enforcement institutions regarding the system development process and potential legal risks. He stressed that the commission will make its decision in a timely manner.
At the same time, he pointed out that the process of forming precinct election commissions has already begun in more than 20 municipalities, and a timely decision on vote counting procedures would provide greater clarity both for commission operations and preparation processes. Zviedris added that a large proportion of precinct commission members are ready to work with manual vote counting, provided the rules are clear and unambiguous.
Meanwhile,
the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB) continues to assess potential security risks
related to suspected fraud in IT procurement systems, including the security of the Saeima election platform.
Decisions on the full use of the platform, including vote counting functionality, will be made after the risk assessment is completed. Processing such information takes time. Once the assessment is finished, SAB will inform the institutions responsible for the election process and the country’s top officials.
Most political parties represented in parliament have already indicated to LETA that they are inclined to support the President’s call.
As previously reported, law enforcement authorities have uncovered suspected fraud in state IT procurement contracts worth 1.5 million euros, with 21 individuals, including public officials, detained. The investigation has identified suspicions of a secret agreement to predetermine winners in at least six EU-funded projects and to distribute illicit profits.
In a press release, EPPO stated that the implementation of some of these projects may pose potential national security risks, as they could affect elections and democratic processes.
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