More detailed information on elections, i.e. candidates, voting districts, voting application, election results, statistics, etc. is available on the elections website.
The fundamental principles of election law are provided for in the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia. Elections are general, uniform and direct. Voting is secret.
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, in the Republic of Estonia, supreme political authority is vested in the people who, through citizens eligible to vote, exercise it in elections to the Riigikogu and in referendums. The right to vote and the right to stand as a candidate are specified in Acts concerning elections.
Residents of Estonia eligible to vote have the right to participate in elections to the Riigikogu, the European Parliament and municipal councils, and in referendums.
Estonian nationals, European Union nationals and foreigners who reside in Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit or a right of permanent residence can vote in local government council elections if they have reached 16 years of age by the election day and their residence registered in the Population Registry is located in the relevant rural municipality or city. A person who has been divested of their active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote or who has been convicted by a court and is serving a sentence in a prison does not have the right to vote.
In order to be listed in the electoral register, voters do not have to take any steps themselves; voters are entered in the electoral register on the basis of the Population Registry data, and all those who have entered their Estonian residence in the Population Registry stating at least the rural municipality are entered in the electoral register.
A non-EU national or a stateless person residing in Estonia can vote in local government council elections but cannot stand as a candidate.
Every Estonian national and national of the European Union who has the right to vote, who has attained 18 years of age by the last day for the registration of candidates and whose permanent residence is located in the corresponding rural municipality or city not later than on 1 August of an election year has the right to stand as a candidate. A person in active service in the Defence Forces or a person who has been convicted of a criminal offence by a court and is serving a prison sentence cannot stand as a candidate in council elections.
Estonian nationals who are at least 18 years old have the right to vote in the Estonian parliamentary elections. People who have the right to vote are automatically entered in the electoral register.
In European Parliament elections, at least 18 years old Estonian nationals and nationals of other Member States of the European Union who have registered their place of residence in Estonia with their local government have the right to vote.
A national of an EU Member State has the right to be listed in the electoral register and to vote in Estonia if:
- they have reached 18 years of age by election day;
- their permanent place of residence is in Estonia, i.e. their place of residence in Estonia is listed in the Estonian Population Registry;
- they have not been deprived of their right to vote in their home Member State;
- they have not been divested of their active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote;
- they are not serving a prison sentence imposed by a court for a criminal offence.
In order to be included in the Estonian electoral register for the European Parliament elections, a European Union national must submit a signed application to the Ministry of the Interior no later than on the 30th day before election day. European Union nationals residing in Estonia are given more detailed information about the application form and how it must be submitted before the election. If a voter has already submitted an application to be included in the Estonian electoral register once and is still residing in Estonia during the next European Parliament election, they do not need to submit another application during the next election.
The application must:
- indicate their nationality;
- indicate their place of residence in Estonia;
- indicate, if the information is known, the local government unit or electoral district of their country of origin in the electoral register of which the person was last listed in;
- confirm that they wish to exercise their right to vote only in Estonia;
- confirm that they have not been deprived of their right to vote in their country of origin.
A copy of the personal data page of their identity document must be added to the application.
Candidates can be nominated by political parties and, in local elections, by electoral alliances as well. Independent candidates may also participate.
The details of political parties and their members (contact details, lists of members, dates of joining the party, etc.) can be viewed on the e-Business Register. Members of political parties and members of boards of political parties can submit applications related to political parties also on the Business Register.
A European Union national has the right to stand as a candidate in European Parliament elections in one of the European Union Member States if:
- they have reached 21 years of age by election day;
- their permanent place of residence is in Estonia, i.e. their place of residence is listed in the Population Registry;
- they have not been deprived of their right to stand as a candidate in their country of origin;
- they have not been divested of their active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote;
- they have not been convicted by a court of a criminal offence and are not serving a prison sentence;
- they are not in active service in the Defence Forces.
Organisation of elections
- Municipal council elections are held every four years.
- Elections to the Riigikogu are held every four years.
- Elections to the European Parliament are held every five years.
Electoral districts and voting districts are formed to organise elections. Voters are included in the lists of voters on the basis of the data in the Estonian Population Register. From 2021, a elections information notice detailing the options and conditions for voting will be sent to voters.
Voting district committees organise the voting. Everyone also has an opportunity to vote before election day using the various options for advance voting. When voting, the voter writes on the ballot paper the registration number of a candidate in the electoral district of his or her residence. Incorrectly completed ballot papers are invalid. It is also possible to vote electronically.
The results of elections are ascertained on the basis of voting results.
A special procedure has been established for reviewing complaints relating to elections.