There is no reason to believe that any illegalities could occur during the electoral process in Latvia, said Kristīne Saulīte, Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), in an interview with the LETA news agency.
Speaking about the integrity and reliability of elections, Saulīte stated that disinformation has always existed and must be countered in all times. “If we talk about what we are doing to promote transparency, first and foremost, it must be emphasized that the CEC works in accordance with the law,” she explained, adding that all procedures in polling stations and commissions are carried out based on clear instructions—on how a polling station should be set up, how it should operate, and how the vote-counting process should be conducted.
“To those who lack knowledge or who, for some reason, wish to cast doubt on the electoral process, I would suggest this: there is an opportunity to become an election observer. Observers are allowed to monitor the work of polling stations in person, both on election day and during vote counting,” the CEC Chairwoman emphasized.
Saulīte believes there is no basis to assume that illegal actions could take place during the elections, since the polling station work is not handled by one individual, but by a commission. Each commission member signs off on every action. Moreover, party observers are also present at polling stations during the election.
She reminded that for these elections, even younger individuals—starting from age 16—can become observers.
“Of course, observers have both rights and responsibilities—they must not disrupt polling station operations, influence voters’ choices, or engage in any campaigning. To become an observer, one must complete a short training course to understand both their rights and duties,” Saulīte said.
Municipal elections will be held on the first Saturday of June, but voters can also cast their ballots in advance during the course of this week.
Also read: OPINION | From “minor glitches” to major doubts — What is happening with Latvia’s electoral system?
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