An Estonian citizen who has the right to vote and who has attained twenty-one years of age by the election day may stand as a candidate at the European Parliament elections;

A citizen of the European Union is qualified to stand as a candidate if they:

• have attained 21 years of age by the election day;
• reside permanently in Estonia, i.e. the address of their residence has been entered in the population register;
• have not been deprived of their right to stand as a candidate in their country of origin.

A person may not stand as a candidate to the European Parliament if:

• they have been divested of their active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote;
• they have been convicted of a crime by a court and are serving a sentence in a penal institution;
• they are an active member of the defence forces.

A person may stand as a candidate in the same elections to the European Parliament only in one Member State of the European Union.

Political parties which have been entered in the non-profit associations and foundations register no later than on the last day of registration of candidates (by 20 April 2024 at the latest) may take part in the elections. Political parties take part in the elections under their own name. The number of candidates submitted by a party may exceed the number of the members of the European Parliament elected in Estonia (7 MEPs) by two (i.e. up to 9 candidates). 

Under the European Parliament Election Act, persons who are not members of the political party may also stand as candidates on the list of the party. At the same time, the European Parliament elections are subject to the restriction that a person registered as a member of a political party in Estonia may not stand as a candidate in the list of another party. When defining who is a member of a party, the State Electoral Office proceeds from the data in the Business Register. A person may stand as a candidate in the list of candidates of only one political party. A person who has been nominated as an independent candidate cannot stand on a list of candidates of a political party. A person may stand as a candidate in only one place, i.e. they may not stand as a candidate simultaneously in several Member States or on the lists of several political parties.

 

Important dates

The submission of candidates for registration starts on the 60th day before the election day, on 10 April 2024, and concludes on 20 April at 6 p.m. Correction of errors in documents for standing as a candidate ends on 27 April 2024 at 6 p.m.

The State Electoral Office accepts candidacy documents on paper on working days from 10 April until 19 April 2024 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. On the last day of submitting candidates for registration (20 April 2024), the State Electoral Office works from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. 

Correction of errors in documents for standing as a candidate ends on 27 April at 6 p.m.

The National Electoral Committee must register the duly nominated candidates by 30 April 2024 at the latest.

A candidate may submit a written application to decline to stand as a candidate within three days after the registration of candidates.

 

Political parties

The documents for standing as candidates are delivered to the State Electoral Office by authorised representatives of political parties. A political party may authorise up to two persons to represent the party.

A political party submits a written notice which sets out the names, personal identification codes, addresses and contact numbers of the authorised representatives of the political party. The notice is signed by a person entitled to represent the political party pursuant to the Non-profit Associations Act or the articles of association of the political party.

A political party submits the following documents for candidates: 

• an application to stand as a candidate for each candidate;
• list of candidates;
• an application for the registration of candidates;
• a copy of the payment order certifying the payment of the deposit.

The number of candidates on the list may exceed the number of the members of the European Parliament elected in Estonia by two. All the authorised representatives of a political party sign the list of candidates.  

 

Independent candidates

Any person who has the right to stand as a candidate may nominate themselves as an independent candidate and perform the acts necessary for registration. Any person who has the right to vote may nominate another person as an independent candidate and perform the acts necessary to register them on the basis of a relevant power of attorney.

 

Deposit

Before nominating candidates, a political party or an independent candidate pay a deposit to the current account of the Ministry of Finance. The amount of the deposit is EUR 4,100 per candidate. If a political party submits the largest permitted number of candidates (9) in all electoral districts, EUR 36,900 will have to be paid as a deposit.

The deposit will be paid as follows:

Recipient: Ministry of Finance

Select a current account:

• EE891010220034796011 SEB Pank
• EE777700771003813400 LHV Pank
• EE932200221023778606 Swedbank

Reference number: 3100057934 (mandatory)

Explanation: State Electoral Office, deposit, and name of the person for whom the deposit is paid.