Latvian elections will go ahead without power, election chief says

Latvia’s parliamentary elections in October will go ahead even if there is no electricity, Central Election Commission Chairman Māris Zviedris said on Latvian Television’s “Viens pret vienu” programme, LSM reported.

Zviedris said generators could not be provided at every polling station in the event of a power outage, but said they were not necessary for the elections to proceed. Computers will have external batteries, and ballots can be counted by candlelight.

“The elections will take place in any event. Even if there is no electricity. We will count the votes, even by candlelight,” Zviedris said.

He also confirmed that election officials were prepared to work without mobile communications.

Zviedris said preliminary results showing which parties had been elected could be expected by 2 a.m. after the election, provided there were no incidents.

The comments followed a severe storm that hit Latvia overnight on August 23. The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre said it was the strongest summer storm in the country since at least 1966, when comprehensive observations of wind gusts began.

One person was killed when a new building collapsed in Jelgava, while several others were injured by falling trees and branches. Two firefighter rescuers were also injured during rescue operations.

On Sunday morning, electricity supplies were disrupted for about 277,000 households, distribution network operator Sadales tīkls said. Widespread outages affected both the distribution network and the transmission network operated by Augstsprieguma tīkls.

Traffic lights stopped working in many places, while shops and fuel stations were closed. Mobile communications were also disrupted. Very strong winds hit Lithuania as well.