Published: 2015-01-01
Key Benefits:
Passed 13.03.2002
RT I 2002, 30, 176
Entry into force 06.04.2002
| 12.06.2002 | RT I 2002, 57, 355 | 18.07.2002 |
| 15.10.2002 | RT I 2002, 90, 517 | 10.11.2002 |
| 21.01.2004 | RT I 2004, 6, 32 | 14.02.2004 |
| 07.06.2006 | RT I 2006, 30, 231 | 14.07.2006 |
| 14.06.2007 | RT I 2007, 44, 316 | 14.07.2007 |
| 11.12.2008 | RT I 2009, 2, 5 | 16.01.2009, partially 01.01.2011 |
| 06.05.2009 | RT I 2009, 27, 165 | 01.01.2010 |
| 20.05.2009 | RT I 2009, 29, 175 | 01.07.2009 |
| 17.02.2011 | RT I, 21.03.2011, 1 | 01.01.2012 |
| 17.10.2012 | RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 | 11.11.2012 |
| 19.06.2014 | RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 | 21.07.2014 |
| 19.06.2014 | RT I, 12.07.2014, 1 | 01.01.2015, partially on the date following its publication in the Riigi Teataja. |
| 19.06.2014 | RT I, 29.06.2014, 109 | 01.07.2014, the titles of ministers replaced on the basis of subsection 107³ (4) of the Government of the Republic Act in the wording in force as of 1 July 2014. |
(1) The Riigikogu shall submit any amendment of Chapters 1 and 15 of the Constitution to a referendum. The Riigikogu may submit other draft Acts that amend the Constitution, and other draft Acts or other national issues to a referendum.
(2) Issues regarding the budget, taxation, financial obligations of the state, ratification and denunciation of international agreements, the declaration or termination of a state of emergency, or national defence shall not be submitted to a referendum.
(1) A referendum is free, general, uniform and direct. Voting shall be secret. Each voter has one vote. The decision of the people shall be reached by a majority of those who participate in the voting.
(2) An Estonian citizen who has attained eighteen years of age by the day of a referendum may participate in the referendum.
(3) A person shall not participate in voting if:
1) he or she is divested of the active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote;
2) he or she has been convicted of a crime by a court and is serving sentence in a penal institution.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(1) A referendum shall be held not earlier than three months after the passage of a resolution to this effect by the Riigikogu.
(2) A day for a referendum shall be specified by the Riigikogu. The referendum shall be held on a Sunday.
(3) A referendum shall not be initiated or held during a state of emergency or a state of war. A referendum shall not be held at a time when less than ninety days remain until elections to the Riigikogu. A referendum on a draft Act to amend the Constitution or on another national issue may be scheduled for a time after the next elections to the Riigikogu. A referendum on another draft Act shall not be scheduled for a time after the next elections to the Riigikogu. A referendum may be scheduled for the same day as Riigikogu elections or local government council elections.
(4) Referendums shall not be held on the same day on issues which are mutually exclusive or for the passage of Acts which are in conflict with each other.
[RT I 2002, 90, 517 - entry into force 10.11.2002]
The decision of a referendum shall be binding for all state authorities.
The right to initiate a referendum shall be provided for in the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act.
[RT I 2007, 44, 316 - entry into force 14.07.2007]
(1) The Riigikogu shall decide to hold a referendum pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act.
[RT I 2007, 44, 316 - entry into force 14.07.2007]
(2) The Riigikogu shall not amend or repeal a resolution to hold a referendum.
(1) A referendum shall be postponed if a state of emergency or a state of war is declared.
(2) If the Government of the Republic declares an emergency situation due to a natural disaster, catastrophe or infectious disease after a resolution to hold a referendum has been passed, the Riigikogu may postpone the referendum by a resolution.
(3) The Riigikogu shall determine a new day for the referendum within two weeks after the reasons provided for in subsections (1) and (2) of this Act cease to exist, observing the term prescribed in subsection 3 (1) of this Act which shall be calculated from the date on which the resolution of the Riigikogu determining the new day of the referendum is passed.
(4) In the case prescribed in subsection (1), the National Electoral Committee shall publish a notice within seven working days as of the entry into force of the resolution to this effect.
(1) A referendum shall not be held if:
1) the Supreme Court repeals the resolution of the Riigikogu concerning submission of a draft Act or other national issue to a referendum;
2) the Riigikogu has not passed a resolution determining a new date for the referendum within the term prescribed in subsection 7 (3);
3) the time of the referendum is not in accordance with subsection 3 (3) due to extraordinary Riigikogu elections being called.
(2) In the case prescribed in clause (1) 1), the National Electoral Committee shall publish a notice concerning cancellation of a referendum within seven working days as of the entry into force of the judgment of the Supreme Court.
(3) In the case prescribed in clause (1) 2), the National Electoral Committee shall publish a notice within seven working days as of the expiry of the term prescribed in subsection 7 (3).
(4) In the case prescribed in clause (1) 3), the National Electoral Committee shall publish a notice within seven working days as of extraordinary Riigikogu elections being called.
(1) Resolutions to hold a referendum, draft Acts to be submitted to a referendum, resolutions to postpone a referendum, resolutions which determine a new date for a referendum and notices issued by the National Electoral Committee concerning the postponement or cancellation of a referendum shall be published in the Riigi Teataja.
(2) Resolutions to hold a referendum and draft Acts to be submitted to a referendum shall be published for a second time between seven days and fourteen days before the day of the referendum.
(1) On the day of a referendum, active campaigning in favour of or against the issue submitted to a referendum or relating to participation in or refusal to participate in the referendum is prohibited.
(2) Campaigning is prohibited in polling places and in premises through which voters enter polling places.
[RT I 2002, 57, 355 - entry into force 18.07.2002]
(1) In order to hold voting, voting districts shall be formed within the territory of a local government.
(2) Voting districts shall be formed by a regulation of the rural municipality or city government which prescribes:
1) the numeration of the voting districts;
2) the boundaries of the voting districts;
3) the locations of polling places;
4) at least one voting district where voters can vote outside the voting district of their residence according to subsection 34 (2);
5) a voting district where voters can vote if the information on their residence in the rural municipality or city is entered in the Estonian population register (hereinafter population register) to the accuracy of the rural municipality or city, or in Tallinn to the accuracy of the city district.
(3) Voting districts are permanent. Voting shall be held in the same voting districts for referendums as for Riigikogu, local government council and European Parliament elections, unless the rural municipality or city government decides otherwise and amends the regulation specified in subsection (2).
(4) A rural municipality or city government may amend a regulation specified in subsection (2) not later than on the fiftieth day before the day of the referendum or in extraordinary cases later. The rural municipality or city government shall promptly notify the National Electoral Committee and the chief processor of the population register of any such amendments.
(5) A rural municipality or city government shall make the information specified in subsection (2) public before the referendum.
(6) A county electoral committee shall make the information specified in subsection (2) public during the week before the start of advance voting.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(1) Referendums are organised by the following electoral committees:
1) the National Electoral Committee;
2) county electoral committees;
3) voting district committees;
4) the Electronic Voting Committee.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) In Tallinn and Tartu, the city electoral committee shall perform the functions of a county electoral committee.
(1) The term of authority and the procedure for formation of the National Electoral Committee, the Electronic Voting Committee, county electoral committees and the electoral committees of the cities of Tallinn and Tartu is prescribed in the Riigikogu Election Act.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) The authority of a voting district committee shall continue until declaration of the results of the referendum or publication of a notice provided for in § 8 concerning cancellation of the referendum. If the Riigikogu passes a resolution concerning the holding of another referendum before the authority of the voting district committee terminates, the authority of the committee shall be extended as appropriate.
(1) A person who has the right to vote according to § 2 and whose authority of a member of an electoral committee has not been terminated in the course of the last five years by a resolution of the National Electoral Committee may be a member of a voting district committee.
(2) The Riigikogu Election Act applies to members of voting district committees.
(3) Members of electoral committees shall not campaign in favour of or against the issue submitted to a referendum or relating to participation in or refusal to participate in the referendum.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
The working procedures of electoral committees shall comply with the Riigikogu Election Act.
Assistance shall be provided to electoral committees in compliance with the Riigikogu Election Act.
(1) The function of the National Electoral Committee is to ascertain voting results across the whole country, ensure the uniformity of the conduct of a referendum, instruct other electoral committees, exercise supervision over their activities and perform other functions arising from law.
(2) The National Electoral Committee has the right:
1) to suspend or terminate the authority of a member of a voting district committee, the Electronic Voting Committee or a county electoral committee if he or she violates this Act, a regulation of the National Electoral Committee or instructions of a superior electoral committee;
2) to issue precepts for the elimination of deficiencies of an act of a county electoral committee, the Electronic Voting Committee or voting district committee or a resolution of a county electoral committee;
3) to suspend an act of a county electoral committee, the Electronic Voting Committee or voting district committee or the validity of a resolution of a county electoral committee;
4) to repeal a resolution of a county electoral committee or to declare an act of a voting district committee, the Electronic Voting Committee or a county electoral committee unlawful and to issue a precept to the voting district committee, Electronic Voting Committee or county electoral committee for elimination of the violation;
5) not to start electronic voting or to terminate electronic voting if the security or reliability of the electronic voting system cannot be insured in such way that electronic voting could be conducted pursuant to the requirements of this Act;
6) to repeal, in case of suspension or termination of electronic voting, the votes given by electronic means in full or partially;
7) to declare the voting results in a voting district, a county, Tallinn, the city of Tartu or the state invalid or to declare the electronic voting results invalid in full or partially and to hold a repeat vote if the violation significantly affected or could have significantly affected the voting results.
(3) The National Electoral Committee shall issue regulations in the cases prescribed in subsection (4) of this section. The Chairman shall sign the regulations of the National Electoral Committee. Regulations enter into force on the third day after publication in the Riigi Teataja.
(4) The National Electoral Committee shall establish the following by a regulation:
1) the standard format of lists of voters;
2) the procedure for voting in foreign states;
3) the procedure for the holding of voting and ascertaining of voting results;
4) the standard format of ballot papers;
5) the standard format of the records of voting results;
6) the status of observer;
7) the procedure for the use of money allocated for the organisation of a referendum.
(5) The National Electoral Committee shall adopt a resolution in order to resolve an individual issue within the competence of the National Electoral Committee. The resolution shall be signed by the Chairman of the Committee. The resolution shall enter into force upon signature thereof.
(6) Regulations, resolutions and instructions of the National Electoral Committee shall be binding on county electoral committees, the Electronic Voting Committee and voting district committees.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) The function of a county electoral committee is to ascertain the voting results in the county, to instruct voting district committees, to exercise supervision over their activities and to perform other functions arising from this Act.
(2) A county electoral committee has the right to:
1) suspend the authority of a member of a voting district committee if he or she violates this Act, a regulation of the National Electoral Committee or instructions of a superior electoral committee;
2) propose to the National Electoral Committee to terminate the authority of a member of a country electoral committee who has violated the Referendum Act, a regulation of the National Electoral Committee or instructions of a superior electoral committee;
3) issue precepts for the elimination of deficiencies of an act of a voting district committee;
4) suspend an act of a voting district committee;
5) declare an act of a voting district committee unlawful;
6) make a proposal to the National Electoral Committee to declare the voting results in a voting district invalid and to hold a repeat vote in the voting district if the violation significantly affected or could have significantly affected the voting results.
(3) A county electoral committee shall adopt a resolution in order to resolve an individual issue within the competence of the county electoral committee. The resolution shall be signed by the chairman of the committee. The resolution shall enter into force upon signature thereof.
(4) Resolutions and instructions of county electoral committees shall be binding on voting district committees.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
The competence of the Electronic Voting Committee shall be provided for in § 172 of the Riigikogu Election Act.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) A voting district committee shall be comprised of up to nine members.
(2) The local government council (hereinafter council) shall appoint the chairman and members of a voting district committee by a resolution on the proposal of the rural municipality or city secretary and in consideration of the principle of political balance not later than on the twentieth day before the day of the referendum.
(3) The rural municipality or city secretary shall present half of the members of a voting district committee, and the political parties entered in the non-profit associations and foundations register shall present the remaining members.
(4) Political parties entered in the non-profit associations and foundations may present one member candidate for a voting district committee to the rural municipality or city secretary not later than on the fortieth day before the day of the referendum.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(5) The consent of the person is required to appoint him or her a member of a voting district committee.
(6) If political parties do not present candidates or if the number of candidates presented by them is smaller than the number of places which parties have in the voting district committee, the council shall appoint the remaining members on the proposal of the rural municipality or city secretary.
(7) If the number of member candidates for a voting district committee presented by political parties exceeds the number of places which political parties have in the voting district committee, all the remaining candidates are appointed alternate members of the voting district committee.
(8) The council shall also appoint, on the proposal of the rural municipality or city secretary and pursuant to subsection (7), at least two alternate members who, during the term of authority of the committee and in the order specified by the council, shall replace the members of the committee whose authority is suspended or terminates.
(9) A voting district committee shall elect a deputy chairman of the committee from among its members.
(10) Operational and clerical support shall be provided to a voting district committee by the rural municipality or city government.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
The function of a voting district committee is to conduct voting, ascertain voting results in the voting district and perform other functions arising from this Act.
(1) Voters shall be registered in the population register.
(2) The procedure for maintenance of the population register shall be prescribed by law.
(3) Voters shall be registered on the basis of the following information entered in the population register:
1) given name and surname;
2) date of birth;
3) personal identification code;
4) information on citizenship;
5) information on divestment of active legal capacity;
6) information on place of residence.
(1) The chief processor of the population register shall organise the preparation of voter's cards and their sending to voters not later than on the twentieth day before the day of the referendum. A voter's card shall not be sent to a voter if the information on his or her residence is entered in the population register on the initiative of a local government to the accuracy of the rural municipality or city, or in Tallinn to the accuracy of the city district. If several referendums are held on the same day, only one voter's card shall be sent to each voter.
(2) The following shall be entered in the voter's card:
1) given name and surname of voter;
2) year of birth of voter;
3) residential address of voter;
4) the name of the rural municipality or city and the number of the voting district where the voter is entered in the list of voters;
5) the time and place of voting on advance voting days and the day of the referendum;
6) the referendum issue or the title of the draft Act and a notation concerning publication of the draft Act in the Riigi Teataja.
7) other information concerning voting.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(21) A voter may order an electronic voter's card. To order an electronic voter's card, a voter shall submit an application to the chief processor of the population register through the Estonian information gateway. For the following elections and referendums, a voter shall be sent an electronic voter's card without the need to re-submit the application.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(3) A voter who has not received a voter's card by the fifteenth day before the day of the referendum or whose voter's card contains incorrect information may file an application with a rural municipality or city secretary for clarification to be given or errors to be corrected. The rural municipality or city secretary shall promptly review the application together with the person who prepared the voter's card and shall respond to the application in writing within three working days as of receiving the application.
(1) The chief processor of the population register shall organise the preparation and printing of the lists of voters for each voting district on the basis of the information held in the population register and shall organise the delivery of lists of voters to the voting district committees by the day before the day of the referendum. The electronic lists of voters shall be sent to the Electronic Voting Committee not later than by the thirteenth day before the day of the referendum.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) The basis for the preparation of list of voters shall be the information prescribed in subsection 21 (3), as at the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum. Upon preparation of the list of voters, any changes made to the information specified in clauses 21 (3) 1)–5) later than the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum shall also be taken into account. Any changes made to the residential address after the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum shall not be taken into account.
(3) A person shall not be entered in a list of voters if he or she has been convicted of a criminal offence by a court pursuant to information held in the punishment register and if, as at the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum, he or she is to be imprisoned until the day of the referendum.
(4) A voter shall be entered in the list of voters of the voting district in the territory of which his or her residence, as entered in the population register, is located on the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum. If the information on the residence of a voter is entered in the population register to the accuracy of the rural municipality or city, or in Tallinn to the accuracy of the city district, the voter shall be entered in the list of voters of a voting district determined pursuant to clause 11 (2) 5).
(5) The following information on each voter shall be entered in the list of voters:
1) given name and surname;
2) personal identification code;
3) residential address.
(6) Voters shall be entered in a list of voters in alphabetical order according to their surname.
(7) The person who prepares a list of voters shall sign the list of voters not later than on the seventh day before the day of the referendum and the chairman of the voting district committee shall sign the list of voters on the day of the referendum after the close of voting. The chairman of the Electronic Voting Committee shall sign the list of voters who voted using electronic means after the close of voting.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(8) [Repealed - RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) A voter may check the correctness of information entered in the list of voters concerning himself or herself.
(2) After the day of the referendum, a voter may, in the event of justified interest, examine the list of voters to the extent necessary and the list may be used for scientific purposes.
(1) If a voter finds that information entered in the list of voters concerning himself or herself contains errors, he or she shall submit an application for correction of the errors to the voting district committee which shall promptly forward it to the rural municipality or city secretary.
(2) The rural municipality or city secretary shall promptly review the application together with the person who prepared the list of voters and shall respond to the applicant and inform the voting district committee of the results of the review.
(3) The voting district committee shall correct the error in the list of voters on the basis of a notice issued by the rural municipality or city secretary.
(4) If it is clear from the documents submitted to a voting district committee that the information entered in the list of voters contains errors, the voting district committee may correct the errors. The rural municipality or city secretary shall be promptly informed of the correction of errors.
(1) The list of voters shall be amended only if:
1) a person who has not been entered in any list of voters but who has the right to participate in voting pursuant to this Act is to be entered in the list;
2) a person who does not have the right to participate in voting is to be deleted from the list.
(2) In order to amend a list of voters, a person shall submit an application to be entered in the population register or an application for the amendment of register information which is the basis for the registration of voters to a rural municipality or city secretary. The rural municipality or city secretary shall review the application together with the person who prepared the list of voters and shall promptly respond to the person.
(3) If a person is entered in the population register or if register information which is the basis for the registration of voters is amended such that this brings about the entry of the person in a list of voters, the rural municipality or city secretary shall promptly notify the voting district committee thereof.
(4) A voting district committee shall make an amendment in a list of voters on the basis of a notice issued by the rural municipality or city secretary.
(5) If a rural municipality or city secretary denies an application specified in subsection (2), the applicant may file an action with an administrative court of his or her residence against the act of the rural municipality or city secretary. The action shall be filed with the rural municipality or city secretary who shall forward the action and his or her written explanation to the administrative court of his or her location within twenty-four hours as of the receipt of the action.
(6) The administrative court shall review the action and make a judgment within three working days after receipt of the action.
(7) The administrative court shall make one of the following judgments:
1) to dismiss the complaint;
2) to satisfy the complaint and issue a precept to the rural municipality or city secretary to arrange that the person be entered in the population register or to amend the register information which is the basis for the registration of voters.
(8) If the administrative court satisfies the complaint, the person shall be promptly entered in the population register or the information pertaining to him or her shall be amended and the voting district committee shall be promptly notified thereof.
(1) Voting in a voting district shall be held at a polling place designated by the rural municipality government or city government. Different polling places may be designated for voting on the day of the referendum and on advance voting days.
(2) A polling place shall have places for the distribution of ballot papers, voting booths and a ballot box. In a voting district where voters can vote outside the voting district of their residence, the polling place shall have a separate voting booth and a separate ballot box for voters voting outside the voting district of their residence during advance voting.
(3) If a draft Act is submitted to a referendum, voters may examine the draft act in the polling places.
(4) Order in a polling place shall be maintained by the voting district committee. Lawful oral orders given by members of the voting district committee are mandatory for all persons in the polling place.
(1) A voting booth shall be positioned in a manner which enables voting to be secret.
(2) A voting booth shall have a table and a writing instrument.
(1) Voting district committees shall inspect and seal ballot boxes before voting opens. Ballot boxes sealed before the start of advance voting shall be used for advance voting only.
(2) The opening of a ballot box shall be covered. It shall be opened only to deposit a ballot paper in the box.
(3) After the close of voting on advance voting days, the voting district committee shall seal the opening of the ballot box used for advance voting.
(1) If a draft Act is submitted to a referendum, the title of the draft Act or, pursuant to a resolution of the Riigikogu, the text of the draft Act, the question “ Kas Teie olete seaduseelnõu seadusena vastuvõtmise poolt ?” [Are you in favour of passage of the draft Act?] and spaces marked with the possible answers “ jah ” [yes] and “ ei ” [no] shall be entered on the ballot paper. If another national issue is submitted to a referendum, the wording of the issue and spaces marked with the possible answers " jah " [yes] and " ei " [no] shall be entered on the ballot paper.
(2) The National Electoral Committee shall establish the standard format of the ballot paper.
(3) The National Electoral Committee shall organise the preparation and delivery of ballot papers to the voting district committees.
(4) After receiving the ballot papers, the voting district committee shall put an impression of the seal of the voting district committee to the ballot papers. The National Electoral Committee shall put an impression of the seal to ballot papers used in foreign states and on board ships.
[RT I 2002, 90, 517 - entry into force 10.11.2002]
(1) Voting on the day of the referendum shall open at 9 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
(2) Advance voting shall be held:
1) from the tenth day to the seventh day before the day of the referendum in a voting district designated by the county electoral committee. Voting shall open at 12 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.;
2) from the sixth day to the fourth day before the day of the referendum in all voting districts. Voting shall open at 12 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voting at the location of a voter, in custodial institutions, hospitals and twenty-four hour social welfare institutions shall be organised between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.;
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
3) from the tenth day to the fourth day before the day of the referendum by electronic means. Voting shall open at 9 a.m. on the tenth day before the day of the referendum and shall last twenty-four hours a day until the close of voting at 6 p.m. on the fourth day before the day of the referendum.
(3) Home voting shall be held on the day of the referendum in the cases prescribed in this Act.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) A voter shall vote in the voting district where he or she is entered in the list of voters, except in the cases prescribed in §§ 34–38 and 40 and in Chapter 71 and 8.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) In order to receive a ballot paper, a voter shall present an identity document to the voting district committee. The voter shall sign the list of voters against receipt of the ballot paper.
(3) The voter shall complete the ballot paper in a voting booth.
(4) The voter shall indicate his or her answer on the ballot paper in the space marked “ jah ” [yes] or “ ei ” [no].
(5) The voter shall complete the ballot paper himself or herself. If he or she is unable to complete the ballot paper himself or herself due to a physical disability, another person may do so at his or her request and in his or her presence.
(6) The voter shall not take the ballot paper out of the polling place. If the voter spoils the ballot paper, he or she has the right to receive another ballot paper from the voting district committee. The voter shall return the spoilt or unused ballot paper to the voting district committee.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(7) After completing the ballot paper, the voter shall fold the ballot paper and hand it to a member of the voting district committee who shall put an impression of the seal of the voting district committee on the outside of the folded ballot paper.
(8) The voter shall deposit the ballot paper in the ballot box himself or herself. If he or she is unable to deposit the ballot paper in the ballot box himself or herself due to a physical disability, another person may do so at his or her request and in his or her presence.
(1) Advance voting shall be held pursuant to the procedure prescribed in § 32.
(2) A voter entered in the list of voters who has attained 18 years of age by the day of the advance voting has the right to vote at the advance voting.
(3) At least three members of a voting district committee shall hold the advance voting.
(4) A member of the voting district committee shall mark the date of voting in the list of voters concerning each person who has voted.
(5) The voting district committee shall keep the ballot box and voting documents on advance voting days and the following days such that only members of the voting district committee have access to these.
(1) On advance voting days (subsection 31 (2)), voters may vote outside the voting district of their residence in a voting district designated by the county electoral committee or rural municipality or city government.
(2) A voting district committee designated by the rural municipality or city government shall organise voting outside the voting district of residence on the days prescribed in clause 31 (2) 2) of this Act. The rural municipality or city government may designate a voting district committee which, in addition to advance voting, organises voting only at the location of a voter (§ 36) or in custodial institutions, hospitals and twenty-four hour social welfare institutions (§ 38).
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(3) A county electoral committee, except the Harju County Electoral Committee and the Tartu County Electoral Committee shall designate, not later than on the forty-fifth day before the day of the referendum, at least one voting district located in a county town, where voters may vote outside the voting district of their residence on the days prescribed in clause 31 (2) 1) of this Act. In Tallinn and the city of Tartu, the city electoral committee shall designate this voting district. Each county electoral committee shall publish its resolution not later than in the week preceding the beginning of advance voting.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) A voter who wishes to vote in a polling place outside the voting district of his or her residence shall present an identity document to a member of the voting district committee and the voter shall be entered in the list of voters voting outside the voting district of their residence.
(2) A member of the voting district committee shall issue a ballot paper and two envelopes to the voter. The voter shall sign the list of voters voting outside the voting district of their residence against the receipt of a ballot paper.
(3) The voter shall complete the ballot paper pursuant to the provisions of subsections 32 (3)–(6).
(4) The voter shall place the ballot paper in one of the envelopes given by the member of the voting district committee. The voter shall place the envelope with the ballot paper in the other envelope given by the member of the voting district committee. The voter or the member of the voting district committee shall write the name, personal identification code and residential address of the voter on the outer envelope. The voter shall deposit the envelope in the ballot box prescribed for the ballot papers of voters voting outside the voting district of their residence.
(1) If a voter who wishes to vote outside the voting district of his or her residence is unable to vote at a polling place located in a voting district due to his or her state of health or for another good reason, he or she may, until 2 p.m. on the last day of advance voting, submit a written application to vote at his or her location to the rural municipality or city government of his or her location or to a voting district committee designated pursuant to the procedure prescribed in subsection 34 (2). The voting district committee shall register the application. The rural municipality or city government shall register the application and forward it to the appropriate voting district committee.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) Voting shall be organised by at least two members of the voting district committee pursuant to the provisions of subsections 27 (3), 32 (4)–(6) and 35 (1), (2) and (4).
[Repealed - RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(1) Voting in custodial institutions, hospitals and twenty-four hour social welfare institutions shall be held on the days prescribed in clause 31 (2) 2) of this Act.
(2) The administration of a custodial institution, hospital and twenty-four hour social welfare institution shall submit an application for voting to be held to the voting district committee prescribed in subsection 34 (2) of this Act.
(3) Voting shall be organised by at least two members of the voting district committee pursuant to the provisions of subsection 27 (3), subsections 32 (4)–(6) and subsections 35 (1), (2) and (4) of this Act.
(4) Upon ascertaining of the voting results, the votes of voters who voted at advance voting in a custodial institution, hospital and twenty-four hour social welfare institution shall be taken into account pursuant to the provisions of § 41 of this Act.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(1) If a voter is unable to vote at a polling place due to his or her state of health or for another good reason, he or she may apply to vote at home.
(2) In order to vote at home, a voter shall submit a written application to the rural municipality or city government or to the voting district committee of his or her residence by 2 p.m. on the day of the referendum and the voting district committee shall register the application. If the application is submitted to the rural municipality or city government, the rural municipality or city government shall register the application and forward it to the corresponding voting district committee.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(21) A voter may submit an application to vote at home also by phone to the voting district committee of his or her residence from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day of the referendum. The voting district committee shall register the application.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(22) An application to vote at home shall include the following:
1) name of voter;
2) personal identification code of voter;
3) address of voter;
4) telecommunications numbers of voter;
5) reason for voting at home.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(23) If the voting district committee finds that the application is unsubstantiated, the committee shall notify the applicant of the circumstances for dismissal of the application.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(3) Home voting shall be organised by at least two members of the voting district committee pursuant to the provisions of subsections 27 (3) and 32 (1), (2), (4), (5), (6) and (8).
(4) A home voter shall sign the list of home voters against the receipt of a ballot paper.
(1) A voter residing in a foreign state who has been entered in the list of voters permanently residing in a foreign state and who has not voted pursuant to the procedure provided for in Chapter 8 may vote during advance voting in any voting district designated pursuant to the procedure provided for in the first sentence of subsection 34 (2), or in subsection 34 (3).
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) In order to obtain a ballot paper, a voter shall present an identity document to the voting district committee and shall be entered in the list of voters voting outside the voting district of their residence.
(3) A member of the voting district committee shall issue a ballot paper and two envelopes to the voter. The voter shall sign the list of voters voting outside the voting district of their residence against the receipt of a ballot paper.
(4) The voter shall complete the ballot paper pursuant to the provisions of subsections 32 (3)–(6).
(5) The voter shall place the ballot paper in one of the envelopes given by the member of the voting district committee. The voter shall place the envelope with the ballot paper in the other envelope given by the member of the voting district committee. The voter or the member of the voting district committee shall write the name, personal identification code and residential address of the voter on the outer envelope. The voter shall deposit the envelope in the ballot box prescribed for the ballot papers of voters voting outside the voting district of their residence.
(6) Upon the ascertaining of voting results, votes cast pursuant to the procedure prescribed in this section shall be taken into account pursuant to the provisions of subsections 41 (1) and (2) and subsections 48 (2)–(6).
(1) A voting district committee shall pack the envelopes with the ballot papers of voters who voted outside the voting district of their residence by the counties, and by the cities of Tallinn and Tartu, and shall forward the envelopes to the county electoral committee of their location.
(2) The county electoral committee shall forward the envelopes with ballot papers specified in subsection (1) to the electoral committees of the appropriate counties through the National Electoral Committee not later than on the second day before the day of the referendum.
(3) A county electoral committee shall forward the envelopes with ballot papers received from other county electoral committees pursuant to the procedure prescribed in subsection (2) to the relevant voting district committees not later than on the day preceding the day of the referendum.
(4) After receipt of the envelopes with ballot papers pursuant to the procedure prescribed in subsection (3), the voting district committee shall check that each voter is entered in the list of voters of the voting district and that he or she has not voted more than once. At least three members of a voting district committee must be present when ballot papers are checked.
(5) If a voter is not entered in the list of voters of the voting district or he or she has voted more than once outside the voting district of his or her residence, the voting district committee shall not take into account any of the ballot papers of the voter.
(6) If the voter has voted once, a member of the voting district committee shall make a notation in the list of voters concerning voting at the advance voting.
(7) After performing the acts prescribed in subsections (4)–(6), the voting district committee shall open the outer envelopes, deposit the inner envelopes with ballot papers in the ballot box used at the advance voting and seal the opening of the ballot box again.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
[Repealed - RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
Electronic voting shall be organised at the time provided for in clause 31 (2) 3) of this Act and pursuant to the procedure provided for in § 413 of this Act and §§ 482–483 and 485–488 of the Riigikogu Election Act.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) A voter may vote using electronic means using the system provided for in subsection 482 (2) of the Riigikogu Election Act.
(2) A voter shall identify himself or herself by a certificate which enables digital identification, issued on the basis of the Identity Documents Act.
(3) Following the identification of the voter pursuant to the procedure provided for in subsection (2) of this section, the text on the ballot paper shall be displayed to the voter.
(4) A voter shall mark the answer “ jah ” [yes] or “ ei ” [no] and confirm the vote by a digital signature in conformity with the Digital Signatures Act.
(5) A notice that the vote has been taken into account shall be displayed to the voter after the voting is confirmed.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) Voting in a foreign state for voters permanently residing in the foreign state and voters temporarily staying there shall be organised by foreign missions of Estonia.
(2) A consular authority led by an honorary consul the honorary consul of which is an Estonian citizen may be designated to organise voting by an order of the Government of the Republic. In such case, the consular authority led by the honorary consul shall perform the acts prescribed in this Chapter.
[RT I 2009, 29, 175 - entry into force 01.07.2009]
(3) Voting shall be organised by the head of a foreign mission or an official designated by him or her. In the case prescribed in subsection (2), voting shall be organised by an honorary consul or a person designated by him or her. The person who organises voting must have the right to vote in accordance with § 2.
(4) The chief processor of the population register shall organise the forwarding of lists of voters permanently residing in foreign states to the foreign missions. The following information shall be entered in the list of voters:
1) given name and surname;
2) personal identification code;
3) details of residential address, if known.
(5) Voters permanently residing in a foreign state and voters temporarily staying in a foreign state based on the data in the population register shall be sent electronic voter's cards not later than on the sixtieth day before the day of the referendum. To receive a voter's card, a voter shall submit an application pursuant to the procedure provided for in subsection 22 (21) of this Act.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(6) The following shall be entered in the voter's card:
1) given name and surname of voter;
2) year of birth of voter;
3) residential address of voter;
4) address of foreign mission;
5) procedure for submitting application to vote by post, for voting by post and for voting at foreign mission;
6) due date for receipt by foreign mission of applications to vote by post;
7) due date for receipt by foreign mission of ballot papers sent by post;
8) time of voting at foreign mission;
9) time of electronic voting;
10) referendum issue or title of draft Act submitted to referendum;
11) other information concerning voting.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(1) If a voter wishes to vote by post, he or she shall send a corresponding application to the Estonian foreign mission in the country of his or her habitual residence. If there is no Estonian foreign mission in the country of habitual residence of the voter, he or she shall send the application to the nearest Estonian foreign mission.
(2) A voter who has been entered in the list of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall:
1) append a copy of the page of his or her identity document containing personal data to the application;
2) indicate in the application his or her residential address in the foreign state.
(3) A voter who has not been entered in the list of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall:
1) append copies of documents which certify his or her identity and that he or she has the right to vote in accordance with § 2 to the application;
2) indicate his or her residential address in the foreign state;
3) indicate his or her last residence in Estonia (the county, or the city district in Tallinn, or the city of Tartu). If a voter permanently residing in a foreign state has not had a residence in Estonia, he or she shall indicate in the application the last residence of his or her parents or grandparents in Estonia.
(4) A voter temporarily staying in a foreign state shall indicate his or her residential address in Estonia in the application in addition to the information prescribed in clauses (2) 1) and 2).
(5) Applications shall reach the foreign mission not later than on the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
On the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum, a foreign mission shall send the following to voters who sent their applications in due time and who comply with the requirements of this Act:
1) a ballot paper;
2) two envelopes.
(1) A voter shall complete a ballot paper pursuant to the requirements of this Act. The voter shall place the completed ballot paper in one of the envelopes sent by the foreign mission. The voter shall place the envelope with the ballot paper in the other envelope sent by the foreign mission. The voter shall write his or her name and personal identification code on the outer envelope. A voter temporarily staying in a foreign state shall also write his or her residential address in Estonia on the outer envelope. Thereafter the voter shall send the ballot paper to the foreign mission.
(2) Ballot papers sent by post shall reach the foreign mission on the day determined by the foreign mission, which shall be determined such that the National Electoral Committee will receive the ballot papers not later than on the fourth day before the day of the referendum.
(3) A foreign mission shall prepare a list of voters who voted by post and shall forward the list to the National Electoral Committee. The list shall reach the National Electoral Committee not later than on the fourth day before the day of the referendum.
(4) Upon voting by post, the expenses relating to the acts specified in subsection 43 (1) and subsection (1) of this section shall be borne by the voter.
[Repealed - RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) If a voter does not submit an application to vote by post within the term provided for in subsection 43 (5) or does not send a ballot paper to the foreign mission by the due date provided for in subsection 45 (2), he or she may vote at the foreign mission at a time determined by the foreign mission.
(2) A foreign mission shall allow voting on at least two days in the period between the fifteenth day and the tenth day before the day of the referendum.
(3) At a foreign mission, a voter shall complete a ballot paper pursuant to the requirements of this Act. Thereafter the voter shall place the completed ballot paper in an envelope. The voter shall place the envelope with the ballot paper in another envelope. The voter or the person organising the voting shall write the name and personal identification code of the voter on the outer envelope. A voter temporarily staying in a foreign state shall also write his or her residential address in Estonia on the outer envelope.
(4) A person who votes at a foreign mission shall sign the list of voters voting at the foreign mission against the receipt of a ballot paper.
(1) As the voting results are being ascertained, the ballot papers which have been sent to the National Electoral Committee by a foreign mission and which have arrived not later than on the fourth day before the day of the referendum shall be taken into account.
(2) When the National Electoral Committee has received the envelopes with ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state, the Committee shall verify that the voters permanently residing in a foreign state have not voted several times and that the voters permanently residing in a foreign state who voted in Estonia are entered in the list of voters permanently residing in a foreign state.
(3) If a voter permanently residing in a foreign state has voted several times with a ballot paper or if he or she has not been entered in the list of voters permanently residing in a foreign state, the National Electoral Committee shall not take into account any of the envelopes with ballot papers of the voter. If a voter has voted using electronic means as well as with a ballot paper, the ballot paper of the voter shall be taken into account. If a voter has voted several times with a ballot paper and using electronic means, all envelopes with ballot papers of the voter as well as the vote cast foreign mission shall not be taken into account.
(4) The National Electoral Committee shall designate a county electoral committee which shall ascertain the voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state.
(5) The National Electoral Committee shall forward the ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state to the electoral committee designated pursuant to subsection (4) not later than on the second day before the day of the referendum.
(6) Envelopes with the ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall remain in the county electoral committee and shall be opened on the day of the referendum in order to ascertain the voting results.
(7) Not later than on the day before the day of the referendum, the National Electoral Committee shall forward the envelopes with the ballot papers of voters temporarily staying in a foreign state through the county electoral committee to the voting district committees where the ballots are to be taken into account when the voting results are being ascertained pursuant to subsections 41 (4)–(7).
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(1) If a ship flying the national flag of the Republic of Estonia has voters on board and is located in international waters or waters of a foreign state on advance voting days or the day of the referendum, the master of the ship may submit an application to the National Election Committee to hold voting on board the ship.
(2) The master of a ship shall organise voting on board the ship pursuant to the provisions of this Act not earlier than on the thirtieth day before the day of the referendum. A voter shall vote on board a ship pursuant to the provisions of subsections 35 (3) and (4). Upon ascertaining of the voting results, votes cast on board a ship shall be taken into account pursuant to the provisions of subsections 48 (1) and (7) and 41 (4)-(7).
(1) A voting district committee shall open the ballot boxes after the close of voting. More than one-half of the members of the voting district committee shall be present at the opening.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(2) Before the ballot boxes are opened, the voting district committee shall count and cancel all ballot papers that were not issued to voters and all spoiled ballot papers returned by voters. Ballot papers shall be cancelled by cutting off a corner of the ballot paper.
(3) Before the ballot boxes are opened, the voting district committee shall ascertain, on the basis of the list of voters, the number of voters, and, on the basis of the signatures given in receipt of a ballot paper and notations made, the preliminary number of those who participated in the voting, and immediately forward them to the National Electoral Committee. Notations concerning voters who voted in the advance voting outside the voting district of their residence, using electronic means or at home made in the list of voters shall be considered. The number of voters shall be entered in a standard format record.
(4) When a ballot box is opened, the condition of the impression of the seal on the box shall be inspected.
(5) The impression of the seal of the voting district committee shall be put on the outside of ballot papers of home voters, and the ballot papers shall be placed among the ballot papers of voters who voted at the polling place.
(6) An impression of the seal of the voting district committee shall be put on the outside of ballot papers of voters who voted outside the voting district of their residence, and these ballot papers shall be placed together with the ballot papers of persons who voted at the advance voting among the ballot papers of persons who voted on the day of the referendum.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(7) The voting district committee shall verify the number of ballot papers extracted from the ballot boxes, including the number of invalid ballot papers and the number of affirmative and negative responses to the issue submitted to the referendum, and shall enter these numbers in a standard format record.
(8) A ballot paper shall be deemed to be invalid if:
1) it does not bear two impressions of the seal of the voting district committee;
2) neither or both of the spaces for answers have been completed on the ballot paper or
3) the answer on the ballot paper has been changed.
(9) A ballot paper is valid if neither of the spaces for answers have been completed on the paper but the will of the voter is clear and unambiguous.
(10) A standard format record shall be prepared concerning the ascertaining of the voting results. The chairman of the committee shall sign the record. The date and time of preparation of the record shall be indicated in the record.
(11) After ascertaining of the voting results, valid ballot papers shall be packed as per the answer given. Invalid ballot papers, ballot papers which were not issued to voters and spoiled ballot papers returned by voters shall be packed separately. The voting district from which the ballot papers originate and the type and number of ballot papers in the pack shall be marked on the pack. The chairman of the voting district committee shall sign the notation.
(12) Ballot papers, lists of voters, records concerning voting results and any dissenting opinions of members of the committee shall be promptly delivered to the county electoral committee.
(13) Voting results shall be ascertained publicly in a voting district committee.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
[Repealed - RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) The county electoral committee designated according to subsection 48 (4) shall begin counting the votes cast by voters permanently residing in a foreign state at 7 p.m. on the day of the referendum. At least three members of the county electoral committee shall be present at the opening of the envelopes, including the chairman or deputy chairman of the committee.
(2) The inner envelopes which contain the ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall be opened and an impression of the seal shall be put on the outside of the ballot papers.
(3) On the basis of the ballot papers, the county electoral committee shall verify the number of voters permanently residing in a foreign state who participated in the voting, the number of invalid ballot papers and the number of affirmative and negative responses to the issue submitted to the referendum. A ballot paper shall be declared invalid according to subsections 50 (8) and (9).
(4) The voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall not be disclosed before 8 p.m.
(5) A standard format record shall be prepared concerning ascertaining of the voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state. The chairman of the committee shall sign the record. The date and time of preparation of the record shall be indicated in the record.
(6) The voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall be ascertained publicly. Persons who are present at the counting of votes shall follow any oral orders given by members of the county electoral committee. Persons who are present at the counting of votes shall not bring any means of communication into the room where the votes are counted or leave the room before 8 p.m.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) On the basis of the records received from the voting district committees, the county electoral committees shall verify the number of voters entered in the lists of voters, the number of voters who were given a ballot paper, the number of ballot papers extracted from the ballot boxes, including the number of invalid ballot papers, and the number of affirmative and negative responses to the issue submitted to the referendum. The ballot papers shall be counted in order to check the results.
(2) If the numbers obtained by recounting the ballot papers are different from the numbers in the records of a voting district committee, the county electoral committee shall set out the differences and the circumstances which caused such differences in the appendix to the record. Records of the voting district committee shall not be amended. The county electoral committee shall adopt a resolution concerning the final voting results.
(3) A county electoral committee shall prepare a record concerning voting results in the county and in Tallinn and in the city of Tartu which shall be signed by the chairman of the committee. The date and time of preparation of the record shall be indicated in the record.
(4) The voting results shall be ascertained in a county electoral committee in public.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(1) The Electronic Voting Committee shall ascertain the results of electronic voting on the day of the referendum after 7 p.m.
(2) At least one-half of the members of the Electronic Voting Committee and the National Electoral Committee, including the chairmen or deputy chairmen of the committees, shall be present at the counting of votes.
(3) Prior to the counting of electronic votes:
1) the Electronic Voting Committee shall annul on the basis of a notice specified in subsections 487 (4) and (5) of the Riigikogu Election Act the electronic votes, which have been changed by the ballot papers when voting;
2) the Electronic Voting Committee shall separate the electronic votes subject to counting from the personal data of the voters.
(4) The National Electoral Committee shall open the electronic votes using the vote-opening key provided for in subsection 483 (3) of the Riigikogu Election Act.
(5) The Electronic Voting Committee shall verify the following in each electoral district:
1) the number of voters who participated in electronic voting;
2) the number of invalid electronic votes;
3) the number of electronic votes annulled pursuant to the procedure provided for in clause (3) 1) of this section;
4) the number of affirmative and negative responses to the issue submitted to the referendum.
(6) An electronic vote which does not contain a response to the issue submitted to the referendum or which is not in conformity with the standard format established by the National Electoral Committee shall be null and void.
(7) Counting of votes cast using electronic means shall be public. Persons who are present at the counting of votes shall follow the oral orders of the members of the Electronic Voting Committee. Persons who are present at the counting of votes shall not bring any means of communication into the room where the votes are counted or leave the room before 8 p.m.
(8) Voting results shall not be disclosed before 8 p.m.
(9) The chairman of the Electronic Voting Committee shall sign the results of the electronic voting.
(10) The chairman of the Electronic Voting Committee shall enter the voting results in the election information system immediately.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) On the basis of the records concerning the voting results of voters in counties and voters permanently residing in a foreign state which are received from the county electoral committees and on the basis of the voting results of people who voted electronically, the National Electoral Committee shall verify the number of voters entered in the lists of voters, the number of voters who were given a ballot paper, the number of voters who participated in voting, the number of invalid ballot papers and the number of affirmative and negative responses to the issue submitted to the referendum.
(2) The National Electoral Committee shall prepare a record concerning the voting results. The chairman of the committee shall sign the record. The date and time of preparation of the record shall be indicated in the record.
(3) [Repealed - RT I, 2006.30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(4) The voting results shall be ascertained in the National Electoral Committee in public.
(1) Expenditure for the preparation and holding of a referendum shall be covered from the state budget.
(2) The National Electoral Committee shall prepare a draft budget for expenditure relating to a referendum and shall submit it to the Government of the Republic through the minister responsible for the area.
[RT I, 29.06.2014, 109 - entry into force 01.07.2014 , as of 1 July 2014 "the Minister of Finance" replaced by the words "the minister responsible for the area" on the basis of subsection 107³ (4) of the Government of the Republic Act.]
(3) The National Electoral Committee shall decide on the distribution of budget expenditure on the basis of the size of the allocations from the state budget or the size of the amounts allocated by the Government of the Republic.
(4) Expenditure relating to keeping records of voters shall be covered from the state budget out of separate funds allocated to the budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or out of amounts allocated by the Government of the Republic.
(5) Expenditure related to the organisation of voting in a foreign state shall be covered from the state budget out of separate funds allocated to the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
For the purposes of this Act, a complaint is a request for the review of a resolution of an electoral committee and for the declaration of the resolution as invalid or for the declaration of an act of an electoral committee as unlawful, which is filed with a county electoral committee or the National Electoral Committee and is prepared according to the requirements of this Act.
(1) A complaint shall be prepared in writing and shall set out the following:
1) the name of the body with which the complaint is filed;
2) the name, postal address and telecommunications numbers of the complainant;
3) information concerning the contested resolution or the description of the contested act;
4) a clearly expressed request;
5) the reasons for the complaint;
6) the date.
(2) A complaint shall be signed by the complainant.
(3) If a complaint is not prepared according to the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) or the complaint is filed in violation of the procedure prescribed in §§ 58 and 59, the person with which the complaint is filed may return the complaint to the complainant without reviewing it.
(1) If an interested person finds that an act of a voting district committee violates his or her rights, the person may file a complaint with the county electoral committee.
(2) The complaint shall be filed with a county electoral committee within three days as of the act prescribed in subsection (1) being performed.
(3) The county electoral committee shall review the complaint and adopt a resolution within five working days as of receipt of the complaint. The county electoral committee shall promptly communicate the resolution to the complainant.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(4) The complaint shall be reviewed in public. The county electoral committee shall notify the complainant of the time and place of review of the complaint.
(5) The county electoral committee shall adopt one of the following resolutions:
1) to dismiss the complaint;
2) to satisfy the complaint;
3) to satisfy the complaint partially.
(6) If a country electoral committee satisfies the complaint, the committee may decide to perform the acts specified in subsection 18 (2).
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) If an interested person finds that a resolution or act of a county electoral committee or an electronic voting act violates his or her rights, the person may file a complaint with the National Electoral Committee. A person whose complaint against an act of a voting district committee is dismissed by a county electoral committee may file a complaint against the act of the voting district committee with the National Electoral Committee.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) The complaint shall be filed with the county electoral committee which adopted the resolution or performed the act against which the complaint is filed or which reviewed the complaint filed against an act within three days as of the resolution or act prescribed in subsection (1) being adopted or performed. The county electoral committee shall forward the complaint together with its written explanation promptly to the National Electoral Committee.
(21) The complaint against an act of the Electronic Voting Committee shall be filed with the National Electoral Committee within three days as of the act prescribed in subsection (1) of this section being performed.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(3) The National Electoral Committee shall review the complaint and adopt a resolution within five working days as of receipt of the complaint. The National Electoral Committee shall promptly communicate the resolution to the complainant.
[RT I, 11.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 21.07.2014]
(4) The complaint shall be reviewed in public. The National Electoral Committee shall notify the complainant of the time and place of review of the complaint.
(5) The National Electoral Committee shall adopt one of the following resolutions:
1) to dismiss the complaint;
2) to satisfy the complaint;
3) to satisfy the complaint partially.
(6) If the National Electoral Committee satisfies the complaint, the committee may decide to perform the acts specified in subsection 17 (2).
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(1) If an interested person finds that an act of a voting district committee or the Electronic Voting Committee, a resolution or act of a county electoral committee or a resolution or act of the National Electoral Committee violates his or her rights, the person may file a complaint with the Supreme Court pursuant to the procedure prescribed in the Constitutional Review Court Procedure Act.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(2) A complaint against a resolution of or measure taken by an electoral committee may be filed with the Supreme Court after adjudication of the case in the National Electoral Committee. The complaint shall be filed with the Supreme Court through the National Electoral Committee within three days as of the resolution or act of the National Electoral Committee being announced or performed.
(1) If the National Electoral Committee or the Supreme Court has declared the voting results in a voting district, a county, the city of Tallinn or Tartu or the state invalid, the National Electoral Committee shall determine a new date for the referendum and a repeat vote shall be held in the appropriate voting district or county, in the city of Tallinn or Tartu or in the whole state. The results of the referendum shall be ascertained after the results of the repeat vote become clear. Voting results shall not be declared invalid if the violation does not significantly affect the results of the referendum.
(11) No repeat vote shall be held if the National Electoral Committee has declared the results of electronic voting invalid and has invited the persons who voted using electronic means to vote on the day of the referendum pursuant to the procedure provided for in § 32 or § 39.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(2) The provisions of §§ 33-38 and 40 and Chapter 71 and 8 do not apply to a repeat vote.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
(1) Violation of the prohibition on taking a ballot paper out of the polling place is punishable by a fine of up to 20 fine units.
[RT I 2006, 30, 231 - entry into force 14.07.2006]
(2) [Repealed - RT I, 12.07.2014, 1 - entry into force 01.01.2015]
(3) Police authority shall conduct extra-judicial proceedings in the matters of misdemeanours provided for in subsection (1).
[RT I 2009, 27, 165 - entry into force 01.01.2010]
(1) The National Electoral Committee shall approve the results of the referendum by a resolution after the day of the referendum but not before the term for filing complaints with county electoral committees, the National Electoral Committee and the Supreme Court has expired or before final resolutions have been made in respect of such complaints.
(2) In the case prescribed in § 61, the National Electoral Committee shall approve the results of the referendum after the repeat vote, taking into consideration subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The results of the referendum are deemed to have been declared on the date following publication of the resolution of the National Electoral Committee in the Riigi Teataja according to subsection (1) or (2).
(1) The National Electoral Committee shall submit an Act passed by a referendum and a resolution to approve the results of the referendum to the President of the Republic on the date on which the results of the referendum are announced. The President of the Republic shall promptly proclaim the Act.
(2) An Act which amends the Constitution and which is passed by a referendum shall enter into force on the date specified therein, but not earlier than three months as of its proclamation.
(3) Other Acts passed by a referendum shall enter into force on the tenth day after their publication in the Riigi Teataja, if no other date is prescribed in the Act.
(4) A resolution made on another national issue submitted to a referendum shall enter into force on the date on which the results of the referendum are announced.
If a draft Act submitted to a referendum does not receive a majority of votes in favour, the President of the Republic shall call extraordinary Riigikogu elections pursuant to the procedure prescribed in the Riigikogu Election Act, unless the authority of the composition of the Riigikogu which passed the resolution to submit the draft Act to a referendum has terminated.
(1) The county electoral committee shall preserve the ballot papers for one month as of the day of the referendum. Following the expiry of the aforementioned term, but not earlier than the adoption of the final resolutions in respect to any complaints filed, the county electoral committee shall organise the destruction of the ballot papers and document it.
(2) The Electronic Voting Committee shall preserve the electronic votes for one month as of the day of the referendum. Following the expiry of the aforementioned term, but not earlier than the adoption of the final resolutions in respect to any complaints filed, the committee shall destroy the electronic votes, personal data of the voters contained in the electronic voting system and the key for opening the electronic votes.
(3) The records of voting results shall be preserved permanently. Lists of voters shall be preserved permanently in the National Archives.
(4) The National Electoral Committee shall establish the procedure for the preservation of the records of voting results and other voting documents by a regulation provided for in clause 17 (4) 3) of this Act.
[RT I, 01.11.2012, 1 - entry into force 11.11.2012]
Electronic voting shall not be implemented before 2005.
§ 66. – § 70. [Omitted from this text.]
