At least 2.8% of voters have already cast ballots in Saeima election
According to the Central Election Commission, 43,571 people — at least 2.8% of all eligible voters — have already cast their ballots ahead of Saturday's Saeima election. Early voting continues throughout this week at polling stations nationwide.
Latvia's Central Election Commission (CVK) has released data showing that a total of 43,571 voters — at least 2.8% of the country's 1,557,615 eligible voters — have already cast their ballots ahead of the upcoming Saeima election.
Turnout by region
The highest early turnout so far has been recorded in Riga, where 20,807 people, or 3.47% of eligible voters in the capital, have voted. This figure includes 4,907 voters residing abroad who registered to vote by mail. The CVK explains that for postal voting, a person is counted as having voted if they were sent voting materials and have not withdrawn from voting or deposited their ballot in person at a polling station.
In the Latgale region, 3,393 voters, or 1.85% of those eligible there, have voted so far. In Kurzeme, 3,693 people, or 2.12%, have deposited their ballots for safekeeping.
The CVK notes that vote counting is still ongoing at some polling stations, including in Riga, meaning the overall figures may still change.
Voting continues all week
Throughout the working days of this week, voters can deposit their ballots for safekeeping at any of the 933 polling stations across Latvia. The CVK explains that this method of voting is conceptually similar to previous early-voting options, but with certain procedural differences that allow voters to change their mind and replace their already-cast ballot up until election day.
The Saeima election itself will take place this Saturday, when all polling stations across the country will be open.
