Supreme Court: a dispute over an information request for access to ballot papers belongs to the administrative court

On 25.09.2026 the Supreme Court (Riigikohus), in case 5-26-34/2, declined to hear an appeal contesting the refusal of the National Electoral Committee (Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon) to comply with a request for information [1]. Since the Act on the election of the President of the Republic does not regulate the retention of ballot papers after the votes are counted, „tulnuks kaebus esitada halduskohtule“ (translation: the appeal should have been filed with the administrative court) [1].

What the Supreme Court held

• An election complaint may be filed under three conditions: „valimiskaebuse saab esitada, kui alus vaidlustatava valimiste korraldaja toimingu tegemiseks tuleneb valimisseadustest, vaidluse ese on seotud valimiste korraldamisega ning seadus ei näe ette teistsugust vaidluste lahendamise korda“ (translation: an election complaint may be filed if the basis for the contested act of the election organiser derives from the election acts, the subject of the dispute is related to the organisation of elections and the law does not provide for another procedure for resolving disputes) [1].
• A breach of the Public Information Act can be relied on in election complaint proceedings only in limited cases: „Avaliku teabe seadusest tulenevate kohustuste rikkumisele saab valimiskaebemenetluses tugineda juhul, kui väidetav rikkumine on lahutamatult seotud valimisseadusest tulenevate ülesannete täitmisega.“ (translation: a breach of obligations under the Public Information Act can be relied on in election complaint proceedings if the alleged breach is inseparably linked to performing tasks under the election act) [1]
• That was not the case here: in the court's view, retaining ballot papers and granting access to them cannot be „pidada valimiste korraldaja valimisseadusest tulenevaks ülesandeks“ (translation: regarded as a task of the election organiser under the election act), because the Act on the election of the President of the Republic does not regulate it [1].

Who is affected

The decision concerns people who wish to challenge an election organiser's refusal to comply with a request for information, especially where the information is not linked to tasks under the election act [1].

What to bear in mind

1. Before filing an election complaint, assess whether the basis of the contested act derives from the election acts and whether the dispute relates to the organisation of elections [1].
2. If a dispute over a request for information is not inseparably linked to tasks under the election act, the appeal should, according to the Supreme Court, be filed with the administrative court [1].