Valimised.ee pealeht
Local government council elections on 19 October 2025
The local government council elections take place under the provisions of the Local Government Council Election Act. The representative body of a rural municipality or a city – the local government council – is elected for a term of four years; it deals with local issues and appoints the executive body – the rural municipality or city government.
Political parties, election coalitions and independent candidates may participate in the elections. Every Estonian or European Union citizen who has the right to vote, has attained 18 years of age by the last day for the registration of candidates, and whose permanent residence is registered to be in the relevant rural municipality or city on 1 August of the election year has the right to stand as a candidate. An active serviceman of the Defence Forces or a person who has been convicted of a criminal offence by a court and is imprisoned cannot stand as a candidate. An election coalition may be formed for local government council elections by at least two Estonian or EU citizens who have the right to vote. The relevant contract of partnership and the election coalition registration application must be submitted to the electoral committee of the rural municipality or the city.
Voters must be at least 16 years of age and their registered address in the population register must be in the relevant rural municipality or city. Under the current Local Government Council Election Act, the voters can be either citizens of Estonia or the European Union, or foreigners living in Estonia with a long-term residence permit or the right of permanent residence.
The size of the elected council depends on the size of the local population.
At the local government council elections, the required candidacy documents must be submitted to the rural municipality or city electoral committee. Every candidate must submit an application. Samples of the candidacy documents will be prepared by the State Electoral Office and will be published on the web page of the elections.
There may be one or more electoral districts in a rural municipality or city. Based on the voting results, the electoral committee of the rural municipality or city determines the election results in every electoral district individually. The City of Tallinn uses a three-stage election results determination system and the final election results are determined across the town as compensation mandates.
References
Time of voting
The local government council election week runs from 13 to 19 October. 13 to 18 October are advance and online voting days. On the election day, 19 October, it is possible to vote only in the polling places.
Standing as a candidate
The nomination of candidates begins on 20 August. Sample documents for candidates will be published in summer 2025.