This morning, 1 October, Latvia’s Central Election Commission (CVK) reported disruptions with the electronic online voter register. Officials explain the situation with tight security system in place.
Disruptions were short, as the system went back online quickly.
CVK explains the disruption was not due to external interference, rather due to the tight security system.
Disruptions were fixed quickly and the election process was not impacted. CVK stresses that voting is completely safe.
This is the first time the electronic online voter register was put in operation. Security is monitored by Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC).
Election site employees can use the online register to check voters’ rights and whether or not they have already voted. Voters have to sigh a paper form to confirm they were given the necessary voting materials (ballots, envelope).
If the online register is unavailable at an election site, voters can vote using registration envelopes. Once the system becomes accessible again, registration envelopes will be allowed to be open and the validity of ballots will be checked.
Latvian citizens aged 18 years or older have the right to vote in 14th Saeima elections. Voters need to bring their passport or eID card. Documents that expired after 1 March 2020 are also valid for this year’s elections.
Since records of voters are kept electronically, no stamp will be put in voters’ passport or voter certificate.