Estonian government okays shortening of e-election period from 7 days to 3

  • 2017-04-06
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN - The government on Thursday gave its nod to a bill filed by the three parties of the ruling coalition that would shorten the time period of e-elections from seven days to three days.

Under the bill, the period of e-voting would be from the sixth day to the fourth day before the election day regardless of the method of voting.

The bill to amend the law on the election of the European Parliament as well as other laws, instituted by the factions of Central Party, Social Democratic Party and Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) in the Riigikogu will harmonize the time periods for advance voting and e-voting as up until now, the time period for the latter has been longer. At the same time, the government also found that it is necessary to include the Ministry of Justice and the chancellor of justice in deciding whether to lose the option of advance voting in county seats, spokespeople for the government told BNS.

The bill aims to harmonize the time period for advance polling in the election law, regardless of whether the advance poll is carried out electronically or at polling stations. The bill stipulates that advance polls are conducted from the sixth to the fourth day before election day, regardless of the method of voting.

The current law stipulates advance voting be held on the tenth day to the seventh day before election day in a voting district designated by the county head of elections, from the sixth day to the fourth day before election day in all voting districts and from the tenth day to the fourth day before election day by electronic means.