Transfer of votes in three polling stations Central Election Commission (CEC) will instruct the Riga Election Commission, and this could take place on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on developments, said CEC spokeswoman Laura Zaharova.
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As reported, the Regional Administrative Court on Monday, partially satisfied the complaint of the association of political parties “New Harmony” by Riga City Council the results of the extraordinary elections and instructed the CEC to ensure the transfer of votes in the three polling stations.
The CEC will meet for a sitting tomorrow, September 15, in the afternoon, however, it has already been decided that the transfer of votes will be entrusted to the Riga Election Commission. Zaharova mentioned that tomorrow after the meeting it would be much clearer on which day this transfer could take place, while emphasizing that CVK will try to organize it as soon as possible, without delay.
It is also planned that the counting process will be open – several observers will take part in it, and media representatives may also take part. For the time being, the possibility of organizing the transfer of votes at the Riga Congress House is being considered, but CVK promises to specify the venue and time on Tuesday.
Zaharova also pointed out that the decision of the Regional Administrative Court, instructing the commission to ensure the transfer of votes in three polling stations, is considered to be the most proportionate of the possible options.
She said that the commission was pleased with the court’s decision, emphasizing that three more decisions in similar cases were still awaited, as proceedings were still pending from the Latvian Russian Union, Alternative and two members of the Harmony. CVK has been promised that the decisions of the remaining legal proceedings are expected tomorrow, September 15, therefore tomorrow the commission also plans to come up with clearer plans for organizing the transfer of votes.
Judge Santa Liniņa of the Regional Administrative Court pointed out to TV3 that the judgment in the case initiated by the “New Settlement” had entered into force immediately, therefore, in her opinion, it would be reasonable if the applicants of the other three cases withdraw their applications. Valērijs Petrovs, the candidate for the position of the mayor of Riga of the party “Alternative”, has stated that the party will not cancel his claim. According to them, new extraordinary elections should be held.
CVK representative Laura Zaharova pointed out that if in the polling stations where the votes will be transferred, the vote will be approximately proportional to the total vote, then the election result should not change after the transfer, however, there may be some changes in the party lists.
This decision of the court seems very fair to the head of the Riga City Election Commission Juris Kokins. According to him, “even at the disposal of the polling stations, purely emotionally, it could be felt that people missed something from an overload.”
Kokin also explained that the polling stations themselves would organize the employees for the transfer of votes, however, in his opinion, it would be solid in all respects that what was wrong would also correct the mistake.
The head of the Riga City Election Commission promised not to delay unnecessarily and to start organizing the transfer of votes as soon as the order of the CEC was received.
The courts have today decided to annul the decision of the CEC of 3 September 2020 from the moment of its adoption and instruct the CEC to ensure the transfer of votes in the 74th polling station, 97th polling station and 144th polling station in the city of Riga, adding the envelopes declared invalid in these polling stations.
In the rest, the application to hold new by-elections in all polling stations or in certain three polling stations has been rejected, the court was informed.
The judgment is not subject to appeal.
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