The Central Election Commission (CVK) of Latvia has announced a 12.5% increase in the hourly wage rates for members of election commissions as they perform their duties related to the Saeima elections. This adjustment reflects a new rate that will be effective for the next electoral cycle. CVK Secretary Ritvars Eglājs explained that comparing this increase to previous municipal elections from 2025 is complicated due to different funding sources, with municipal elections financed by local budgets, while the Saeima and European Parliament elections are funded by the state budget.

Eglājs clarified that each municipality independently decides the hourly rates for election commission members during municipal elections, making it challenging for the CVK to compile comprehensive statistics about these rates across different municipalities, as there is no legal requirement for municipalities to report their decisions to the CVK. However, the CVK can compare the new hourly rates with those from the 2024 European Parliament elections as they were the last elections where the commission set the rates.

In the context of the Saeima elections, the CVK's decision is significant as it aims to incentivize participation in the electoral process by increasing remuneration for election commission members. This move could help improve the quality of election administration and encourage more people to serve in such roles, thereby enhancing the electoral process in Latvia and ensuring a more robust democratic system.