In the event of a potential security threat during elections, the safety of polling station staff and voters will be the top priority, Māris Zviedris, Chairman of Latvia’s Central Election Commission (CEC), said in an interview on Latvian Television’s Rīta panorāma programme.
Zviedris noted that the locations of polling stations have already been determined and approved. At the same time, the CEC is working together with the Ministry of Justice and the Crisis Management Centre to develop response procedures for situations such as an air raid alert or any other potential security threat during the elections.
He explained that, in line with official guidelines, proposals are being prepared for responding to emergency situations.
“If a potential threat is declared, the first priority will be the safety of people, followed by the protection of election materials,” Zviedris said.
According to the CEC chairman, the commission has also assessed the feasibility of applying the so-called “two-wall principle” at polling stations. This principle is used as a sheltering measure during emergencies, requiring people to move to an area separated from the outside environment by at least two walls.
Zviedris stressed that the CEC’s goal is to ensure that elections can continue even under emergency conditions while safeguarding both voters and polling station staff.
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