Latvia to Count Parliamentary Election Votes by Hand Amidst Fraud Concerns
Latvia’s Saeima, the country’s parliament, has approved an amendment to the Saeima Election Law mandating a manual count of all valid ballots in the upcoming 15th Saeima elections, scheduled for October 3, 2026. The decision, adopted on Thursday, March 26, 2026, aims to address concerns and bolster public trust following issues with automated counting machines in previous elections.
Concerns Over Automated Counting
The move to manual counting stems from problems encountered during last year’s municipal elections when automatic counting machines were used for the first time. These glitches led to the resignation of the then-head of the Central Election Commission and have triggered ongoing legal proceedings against the official responsible for procuring the faulty equipment. LSM.lv reports that Oļegs Burovs, chairman of the commission overseeing the draft law, emphasized the importance of removing any doubt about the vote-counting process.
Fraud Investigation
The decision also comes amid investigations into potential fraud related to IT procurement. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the State Police are investigating a potential 1.5 million-euro fraud, while the KNAB anti-corruption force is investigating the disclosure of classified information. According to LSM.lv, these investigations contributed to the proposal for a manual vote count.
Potential Costs and Election Security
Māris Zviedris, the latest chairman of the Central Election Commission, has indicated that manual counting could slightly increase the cost of the elections. LSM.lv reports that Burovs has assured the public that the State Administration and Local Government Commission is working closely with the Central Election Commission to ensure the 15th Saeima elections are reliable and secure.
Continued Use of Election Information Systems
Despite the shift to manual counting, the amendment to the Saeima Election Law does not preclude the long-term use of election information systems developed by the State Administration and Local Government Commission. Saeima.lv confirms that this is not a permanent abandonment of digital systems.
Key Takeaways
- All votes in the 2026 Saeima elections will be counted manually.
- The decision is a response to issues with automated counting machines in the previous municipal elections.
- Investigations into potential fraud in IT procurement have contributed to the change.
- Manual counting may slightly increase election costs.
- The use of election information systems is not being permanently abandoned.