§ Section 8Procedure for Granting the State Ensured Free Broadcasting Time

(1) To receive the State ensured free broadcasting time, the
representative of the candidates who are in the list of
candidates of the same title shall lodge a submission to the
public electronic mass media for the use of the State ensured
free broadcasting time within the time limits referred to in
Paragraph four of this Section.
(2) The submission referred to in Paragraph one of this
Section shall include the title of the submitted list of
candidates, contact information, and for the elections of the
Saeima - also the electoral district in which the relevant
list of candidates has been nominated, but for the local
government elections - those local governments in the council
elections of which the lists of candidates have been
nominated.
(3) In co-operation with the Central Election Commission, the
public electronic mass media shall ascertain that the list of
candidates indicated in the submission referred to in Paragraph
one of this Section meets the requirements referred to in Section
6, Paragraph two of this Law.
(4) The submissions to the public electronic mass media
referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be lodged not
later than:
1) 40 days before the day of the elections of the
Saeima or the European Parliament;
2) 20 days before the days of the elections of the
Saeima if the current Saeima has been dissolved or
recalled;
3) 29 days before the day of the local government
elections.
(5) Order in which the State ensured free broadcasting time
will be used shall be determined by drawing lots. Such draw may
not be used for the pre-election campaign.
(6) The drawing of lots and compliance with the limits of
broadcasting time referred to in Section 7 of this Law shall be
ensured by the relevant public electronic mass medium. If
representatives of a list of candidates do not participate in the
draw, the broadcasting time of this list of candidates shall be
drawn by the representative of the relevant public electronic
mass medium.
(7) When organising the drawing of lots referred to in
Paragraphs five and six of this Law, the public electronic mass
media shall offer a broadcasting time intended for a wide
audience.
[10 June 2021]