Estonia’s Ministry of Justice proposes reforms for transparent and accessible e-voting
The Supreme Court’s identification of formal deficiencies in e-voting regulations after the 2019 and 2023 parliamentary elections has spurred the Ministry into action in key areas, including determining election results, vote counting and organisation, and the integration of results into the elections information system.
The Ministry of Justice in Estonia has unveiled plans to introduce legislative amendments aimed at enhancing the clarity and transparency of e-voting rules. Following formal deficiencies identified by the Supreme Court after the 2019 and 2023 parliamentary elections, areas such as determining election results, voting counting and organisation, and signing and entering results into the elections information system require clarification.
The current e-voting organisation, governed primarily by the Riigikogu Election Act and subordinate legal instruments, poses challenges for individuals, even those with legal expertise.
The Ministry, led by Minister of Justice Kalle Laanet, seeks to rectify these shortcomings and better explain the roles of the Information System Authority and public electoral services. Proposed changes include incorporating e-voting regulations into laws overseen by the parliament while retaining the Riigikogu’s authority to delegate key decisions to the government.
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