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COVID-19 and elections

The elections can be organised in a way that is safe for everyone if we all respect the government guidelines. You can find up-to-date information about the restrictions on the web page of the COVID-19 crisis.

The polling places fall under the same rules as other public spaces.

 

Safety requirements when voting in polling places

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For the elections to remain safe for both the voters and the staff of the polling place, we may have to ask you to:

  • wear a mask in the polling place, 
  • keep your distance,
  • disinfect your hands,
  • if possible, allow the elderly to pass you in the queue,
  • If possible, visit the polling place before the election day.

Please stay home if you feel ill.

 

Are you in isolation, been in close contact with someone infected, or are you infected yourself?

If you have returned from a trip to a country that is on the 10-day self-isolation list, or have come into contact with someone who is infected, or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 yourself, you may not come to the polling place. You may not come out of isolation, although the right to participate in elections must nevertheless be ensured to everyone with the right to vote.

In this case, you have three options for voting:

1. Electronic voting 

  • I-voting takes place on 11–16 October 2021.
  • I-voting is possible on a computer by inserting the ID-card into the ID-card reader, or with a computer and mobile ID.
  • In order to ensure safe and smooth i-voting, please check your ID-card software, computer’s operating system, and anti-virus software updates first.
  • The voter application can be downloaded from the opening page of the election website during the i-voting period.

2. Voting at home

Voting at home means that the voter is for some reason (e.g. their health) unable to go to the polling place, and requests the ballot box to be brought to their permanent residence. For example, if a voter lives in Lasnamäe and is self-isolating and therefore requests the ballot box to be brought there, this constitutes voting at home. If a voter is in isolation in Lasnamäe at another address than their home, this is still termed voting at home because the voter has remained in their electoral district.

Home voting is held from the Friday to the Sunday of the election week, or 15–17 October 2021. This may be requested orally on a telephone number provided by the local government on Friday and Saturday from 12 noon until 8 p.m., and on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

After receiving the request, the organiser of the voting contacts the voter to agree on the time of the voting and to explain the procedure.

3. Voting at the location of voter

Voting at the location of voter means that the voter is for some reason (e.g. their health) unable to go to the polling place and requests the ballot box to be brought to their location. Voting at the location of voter takes place when the voter requests the ballot box to be brought to an address outside their electoral district. For example, if the voter’s address in the Population Register is in Lasnamäe but they are self-isolating in their summerhouse in Kuusalu and request the ballot box to be brought there, this is termed voting at the location of voter.

Voting at the location of voter takes place from Monday to Thursday of the election week, or 11–14 October 2021. Voting takes place from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. The deadline for submitting a written application to the local government for voting at the location of voter is 2 p.m. on 14 October.

After receiving the request, the organiser of the voting contacts the voter to agree on the time of the voting and to explain the procedure.