The Central Election Commission (CEC) has established hourly rates for members of election commissions during their duties related to the Saeima elections — for members of precinct election commissions, the rate will increase by one euro, or by 12.5%, reports LETA.
The Secretary of the Central Election Commission, Ritvars Eglājs, explained to the LETA agency that it is difficult to establish the difference from the previous municipal elections in 2025, as the law stipulates that municipal elections are funded from the budgets of municipalities, while elections to the Saeima and the European Parliament (EP) are funded from the state budget.
Accordingly, last year each municipality independently decided on the hourly rate, and the Central Election Commission did not compile information across all municipalities. This means that municipalities are not obliged to inform the Central Election Commission about the decisions made.
At the same time, hourly rates can be compared with the elections to the European Parliament in 2024, as these were the last elections for which the Central Election Commission established rates.
Eglājs noted that the majority of people working at polling stations hold the status of "member of the precinct commission." In 2024, the hourly rate for them was eight euros, and this year it is nine euros. Over the two-year period, the compensation has increased by 12.5%, said Eglājs.
According to information published in the official publication "Latvijas Vēstnesis," the highest compensation for the upcoming Saeima elections in the fall is provided in the Riga Election Commission. Its chairman will receive 17 euros per hour, the secretary — 15 euros per hour, and a commission member — 12 euros per hour. In the European Parliament elections of 2024, the chairman of this commission received 15 euros per hour, the secretary — 13 euros per hour, and a commission member — ten euros per hour.
In the election commissions of other municipalities, the hourly rates for the Saeima elections will be: for the chairman — 16 euros per hour, for the secretary — 14 euros per hour, for a commission member — 11 euros per hour.
In the European Parliament elections, the chairman of the election commission in municipalities with a number of precincts from 29 to 42 received 13 euros per hour, the secretary — 12 euros per hour, and a commission member — nine euros per hour. In commissions of municipalities with a number of precincts from 15 to 28, the chairman received 12 euros per hour, the secretary — 11 euros per hour, and a commission member — eight euros per hour.
In commissions of municipalities with a number of precincts from seven to 14, as well as from three to six, the chairman received 11 euros per hour, the secretary — ten euros per hour, and a commission member — eight euros per hour.
The chairman of the precinct election commission in the Saeima elections will receive 15 euros per hour, the secretary — 13 euros per hour, and a commission member — nine euros per hour. In the European Parliament elections of 2024, the chairman of the precinct commission received ten euros per hour, the secretary — nine euros per hour, and a commission member — eight euros per hour.
The Saeima elections will take place in the fall of this year.
As reported, in January, regulations came into force that provide for an increase in the compensation for members of municipal election commissions and precinct commissions.
The previously established hourly rate for the chairman of the precinct commission was from ten to 15 euros, for the secretary — from nine to 13 euros, and for a commission member — from eight to ten euros.
Currently, the amount of compensation for the chairman, secretary, and members of the election commission and precinct commission is determined by applying the relevant coefficient to the base monthly salary established by the Law on the Compensation of Officials and Employees of State and Municipal Institutions.
It has been established that the hourly rate for a commission member should not exceed the base monthly salary established by the aforementioned law, using the following coefficients: for the chairman of the commission — 0.012–0.014, for the secretary — 0.0102–0.012, for a commission member — 0.007–0.0096.
The base salary for 2026 is set at 1237.06 euros. Thus, in 2026, the rates for chairpersons of election commissions are set at 15 to 17 euros per hour, for secretaries — 13 to 15 euros per hour, and for commission members — nine to 12 euros per hour.
At the same time, considering the fiscal capabilities of the state budget, the reimbursement of meal expenses for members of election commissions during voting and vote counting has not been increased. Accordingly, it remains unchanged at 11 euros.
As the developers of the amendments explained, it is necessary to consider that ensuring the successful and quality conduct of elections increasingly relies on information technologies, which provide faster election results, broader voting opportunities for voters, and more complex procedures for members of election commissions. Thus, there is a growing need to attract more qualified workers to ensure the elections.
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