Taking ballot papers into account upon ascertaining of voting results

(1) The ballot papers received by a foreign mission shall be taken into account in the ascertaining of the voting results if they are received by the State Electoral Office not later than on the fourth day before election day.

(2) Having received the envelopes with the ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state, the State Electoral Office shall verify that the voters permanently residing in a foreign state have not voted several times and that the voters permanently residing in a foreign state who voted in Estonia have been entered in the list of voters permanently residing in a foreign state.

(3) If a voter permanently residing in a foreign state has voted several times with a ballot paper or if he or she has not been entered in the list of voters permanently residing in a foreign state, the State Electoral Office shall not take into account any of the envelopes with ballot papers of the voter. If a voter has voted using electronic means as well as with a ballot paper, the ballot paper of the voter shall be taken into account. If a voter has voted Riigikogu Election Act Page 23 / 32 several times with a ballot paper and using electronic means, all envelopes with ballot papers of the voter as well as the vote cast foreign mission shall not be taken into account.

(4) The State Electoral Office shall designate the county head of elections for each electoral district who shall ascertain the voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state.

(5) The State Electoral Office shall forward the ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state to the county head of elections designated in subsection (4) of this section not later than on the second day before election day.

(6) Envelopes with the ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall remain with the county head of elections and these shall be opened on election day in order to ascertain the voting results.

(7) Not later than on the day before election day, the State Electoral Office shall forward the envelopes with the ballot papers of voters temporarily staying in a foreign state to the corresponding voting district committees where the ballots are to be taken into account when the voting results are being ascertained pursuant to the provisions of subsections 48 (4)–(7) of this Act. [RT I, 06.05.2016, 1 - entry into force 01.01.2017]