Elections in Estonia

{{Short description|none}}  {{Politics of Estonia}} [[Estonia]] elects a [[legislature]] on the national level. The [[Riigikogu]] has 101 members, elected for a four-year term by [[proportional representation]] with a 5% [[electoral threshold]]. A [[head of state]] – the [[President of Estonia|president]] – is elected for a five-year term by parliament (1st–3rd round) or an [[electoral college]] (4th and subsequent rounds). Locally, Estonia elects local government councils, which vary in size. Election law states the minimum size of a council depending on the size of [[Municipalities of Estonia|municipality]]. Local government councils are elected by proportional representation too. *The minimum number of council members is prescribed to be at least 7 seats *Over 2,000 inhabitants: at least 13 seats *Over 5,000 inhabitants: at least 17 seats *Over 10,000 inhabitants: at least 21 seats *Over 50,000 inhabitants: at least 31 seats *Over 300,000 inhabitants: at least 79 seats

Estonia has a [[multi-party]] system with numerous [[political parties|parties]]. Often no one party has the chance to gain power alone and parties must work with each other to form [[coalition government]]s.

Direct elections have taken place in the following years: *Riigikogu (parliament): [[1920 Estonian parliamentary election|1920]], [[1923 Estonian parliamentary election|1923]], [[1926 Estonian parliamentary election|1926]], [[1929 Estonian parliamentary election|1929]], [[1932 Estonian parliamentary election|1932]], [[1936 Estonian National Assembly election|1936]], [[1938 Estonian parliamentary election|1938]], [[1940 Estonian parliamentary election|1940]], [[1992 Estonian parliamentary election|1992]], [[1995 Estonian parliamentary election|1995]], [[1999 Estonian parliamentary election|1999]], [[2003 Estonian parliamentary election|2003]], [[2007 Estonian parliamentary election|2007]], [[2011 Estonian parliamentary election|2011]], [[2015 Estonian parliamentary election|2015]], [[2019 Estonian parliamentary election|2019]], [[2023 Estonian parliamentary election|2023]] *Local/municipal: 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2009, [[2013 Estonian municipal elections|2013]], [[2017 Estonian municipal elections|2017]], [[2021 Estonian municipal elections|2021]], [[2025 Estonian municipal elections|2025]] *European parliament: [[2004 European Parliament election in Estonia|2004]], [[2009 European Parliament election in Estonia|2009]], [[2014 European Parliament election in Estonia|2014]], [[2019 European Parliament election in Estonia|2019]], [[2024 European Parliament election in Estonia|2024]] *Referendums: [[2003 Estonian European Union membership referendum|2003]] (EU) *President: [[1992 Estonian presidential election|1992]] (Presidential elections since 1996 have taken place in Riigikogu or Electoral College)

==Voting== Residents without Estonian citizenship may not elect the [[Riigikogu]] (the national parliament). Residents without citizenship of any European Union member state may not elect the [[European Parliament]] nor municipal councils.

Foreign citizens were eligible to vote in the local (municipal) elections in Estonia up until 2025, last eligible elections being [[2021 Estonian municipal elections|2021 municipal elections]]. Stateless residents, or so-called “non-citizens” holding [[Estonian alien's passport]] are eligible to vote up until [[2025 Estonian municipal elections|2025 municipal elections]], but not after.<ref name="permanent residents elections">{{cite web | title = Estonia amends Constitution to strip Russian, Belarusian citizens of right to vote | url = https://news.err.ee/1609644830/estonia-amends-constitution-to-strip-russian-belarusian-citizens-of-right-to-vote | access-date = 2025-03-26}}</ref>

Electronic voting is based on the [[Estonian ID card]]. Every voter has the right to verify and change their vote electronically. If the voter has also voted with a ballot paper, then only the ballot paper will be taken into account.<ref name=":17"/><ref name=":18"/><ref name=":19"/><ref name=":20"/>

== Latest parliamentary election == {{main|2023 Estonian parliamentary election}} {{#lst:2023 Estonian parliamentary election|2023electiontable}}

== Municipal elections == {{main|2021 Estonian municipal elections}} ==European elections== * [[2004 European Parliament election in Estonia|European Parliament election, 2004]] * [[2009 European Parliament election in Estonia|European Parliament election, 2009]] * [[2014 European Parliament election in Estonia|European Parliament election, 2014]] * [[2019 European Parliament election in Estonia|European Parliament election, 2019]] * [[2024 European Parliament election in Estonia|European Parliament election, 2024]]

==Referendums== The [[Constitution of Estonia]] gives the [[Parliament of Estonia]] the power to submit a bill or other national issue to a referendum (article 105 of the Constitution<ref name="constitution">{{cite web | title = Constitution of Estonia | url = http://www.president.ee/en/republic-of-estonia/the-constitution/index.html#sthash.rvfVEOxG.dpuf | access-date = 2013-11-01}}</ref>). The result of the vote is binding. If a bill which is submitted to a referendum does not receive a majority of votes in favour, the President of the Republic shall declare extraordinary elections to the Parliament.

There are some issues which cannot be submitted to the referendum: issues regarding the budget, taxation, financial obligations of the state, ratification and denunciation of international treaties, the declaration or termination of a state of emergency, or national defence (article 105 of the Constitution<ref name="constitution" />).

Some parts of the Constitution (chapters "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution") can be amended only by a referendum (article 162 of the Constitution<ref name="constitution" />). The rest of Constitution can be amended either by * a referendum; * two successive memberships of the Parliament; * the Parliament, as a matter of urgency (article 163 of the Constitution<ref name="constitution" />). A three-fifths majority of the membership of the Parliament is required to submit a bill to amend the Constitution to a referendum (article 164 of the Constitution<ref name="constitution" />).

A referendum was called by the Parliament of Estonia on 2 occasions since Estonia regained independence from the [[USSR]]. * [[1992 Estonian referendum|a referendum on a new constitution and citizenship]] in 1992 * [[2003 Estonian European Union membership referendum|Estonian European Union membership referendum]] in 2003 Also, there was [[1991 Estonian independence referendum|a referendum on the restoration of Estonian independence]] in 1991 while Estonia was still under Soviet occupation.

==See also== * [[Electoral districts of Estonia]] * [[Electoral calendar]] * [[Electoral system]] * [[Electronic voting in Estonia]]

==External links== * [https://www.riigikogu.ee/en/introduction-and-history/history-riigikogu/ History of the RiigiKogu] * [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/e/estonia/ Adam Carr's Election Archive] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041013054801/http://www.parties-and-elections.de/estonia.html Parties and elections] * [http://www.vvk.ee/engindex.html National Electoral Committee of Estonia] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100410223517/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/estonia/ NSD: European Election Database - Estonia] publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1992-2007

==References== {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=":17">{{cite web |url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/514112016001/consolide/current |title=Municipal Council Election Act |website=www.riigiteataja.ee |access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>

<ref name=":18">{{cite web |url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/510032014001/consolide/current |title=Riigikogu Election Act |website=www.riigiteataja.ee |access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>

<ref name=":19">{{cite web |url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/514112016002/consolide/current |title=European Parliament Election Act |website=www.riigiteataja.ee |access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>

<ref name=":20">{{cite web |url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/514112016003/consolide/current |title=Referendum Act |website=www.riigiteataja.ee |access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref> }}

[[Category:Elections in Estonia| ]]