Latvia considers voting limits after ballot changes delay count

Latvia is weighing changes to its election rules after voters changing their ballots delayed the count by several hours in the recent Saeima election, LSM reports. Proposals include holding elections over several days by amending the Constitution, or limiting changes of vote through legislation.

In Talsi municipality, three voters used the option to vote again. One did so at the same polling station, while another had previously voted in Brocēni. The third realised on Wednesday that he had put a registration envelope into the ballot box without the smaller envelope, and returned to cast his vote correctly.

Talsi election commission chair Agris Purkalns said the count there was held up for four hours because some polling stations had not recorded the participation of voters who had cast ballots in advance and later changed their votes. He said the commission had followed its instructions and was ready to begin work on Saturday evening.

The Central Election Commission is more likely to propose limiting voters to changing their choice once, according to the article’s summary.