Riga, June 4 (LETA) - Andrejs Vaivars, a representative of the Central Election Commission (CVK), informed LETA that there had been no external threat to the Latvian electoral system.

At 5 p.m. the responsible authorities detected that due to the unprecedentedly high demand for the electronic online voter registration service, the security system switched on, blocking the register.

When the polling stations opened, the volume of requests was significantly higher than on previous days. In line with security procedures, access to the system was restricted until the circumstances could be clarified, Vaivars explained.

After investigating the access requests and receiving confirmation from the State Digital Development Agency (VDAA) that the access requests were legitimate, access was restored.

Consequently, voters were able to participate in the elections as usual, without the use of registration envelopes. From 5.30 p.m. the polling stations were open as normal.

As reported, the Electronic Online Voter Register was temporarily disabled on Wednesday evening, which suspended the work of local election polling stations. Vaivars said earlier that an external threat to the electoral system had been detected.

LETA observed that queues had formed at several polling stations in Riga.

Today, early voting is possible at polling stations from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

As reported, on the first day of early voting, electoral commissions had difficulties submitting turnout data due to disruptions in the electoral system.

The information technology security incident prevention body Cert.lv said that the disruption experienced on Monday was not related to any interference. No cyber security incidents were detected in the electoral system.

As many as 48,346 or 3.51 percent of voters have cast their votes in the local elections in Latvia on the first two early voting days.

Early voting will continue until Saturday: polling stations will be open from 8 am to 11 am on Thursday, June 5, and from 12 pm to 3 pm on Friday, June 6. Saturday, June 7, will be the official polling day.