CEC determines the number of councillors to be elected in municipal elections

On Tuesday, 26 January 2021, the Central Election Commission (CEC) determined the number of councillors to be elected in municipal elections on 5 June. A total of 683 councillors will have to be elected in six cities and 35 counties. There will be two cities where 13 councillors should be elected; in councils of 22 municipalities – 15 councillors, in councils of 16 counties – 19 councillors, and there will be one county where 23 councillors should be elected.

The number of councillors to be elected in municipal councils shall be determined according to the number of population registered in municipalities in the Population Register on the day of the announcement of elections – on 21 January this year.

This year's municipal elections will take place in the new administrative territories, and after the elections in Latvia there will be 42 municipalities in place of present 119. Elections will not take place in the Riga municipality this year because the City Council was elected in the extraordinary election last year and will continue to work until the elections of 2025.

By comparison, in the municipal elections of 2017, the total of 1,554 members were elected in 118 municipal councils, with the exception of Riga, and the number of councillors in these municipalities will be reduced by 56% after this year's elections.

According to the Law on Elections to Municipal Council, 15 councillors are to be elected in municipalities with a population of up to 30,000, 19 councillors – in municipalities with a population of between 30,001 and 60,000, and 23 councillors – in municipalities with more than 60,000 residents. In the same time, there will be 13 councillors in cities with population of up to 50,000 residents and 15 councillors – in cities with over 50,000 residents.

The submission of candidate lists for the 2021 municipal elections will take place between 17 March and 6 April. The candidate lists can be submitted by registered political parties, registered associations of registered political parties, two or more registered political parties that have not formed a registered association of political parties.

In order to stand in the 2021 municipal elections, on the day of the submission of the candidate list, the candidate must have a registered place of residence in the administrative territory of the municipality without interruption at least since 26 June 2020 or have worked in the relevant municipality as a worker or self-employed person at least since 26 December 2020. It will also be possible to stand as a candidate in that constituency where the candidate owns real estate registered in accordance with the procedures specified by law.

Number of councillors to be elected in municipal elections on 5 June 2021

* the administrative territories specified in the Law on Administrative Areas and Populated Areas.

** in accordance with the data of the Population Register of the Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs as on 21 January 2021, the date of the announcement of the elections.

*** In accordance with the amendments of March 25 to the Central Election Commission's decision of January 26, 2021 No. 4 “On the number of deputies to be elected in the 2021 local government council”. 

CEC Information Department

Tel. +371 67814900, +371 20237331