Latvia, Parliamentary Elections, 3 October 2026: ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report

The report records that Latvia deployed automated ballot-scanning and vote-counting technology on a nationwide scale for the first time in the June 2025 municipal elections, that the systems suffered major technical failures forcing a reversion to manual counting in numerous polling stations, and that the responsible minister and the Central Election Commission chairperson resigned. Following procurement concerns referenced by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, and a public call by President Rinkēvičs for a return to manual counting, parliament amended the election law on 26 March 2026 to require fully manual counting, replacing the previously envisaged use of ballot scanners. It also confirms the 14th Saeima seat distribution and notes that all votes cast abroad are allocated to the Riga constituency.