Latvian citizens abroad can apply to vote by post

Latvian citizens abroad can vote in the 15th Saeima elections either at a polling station or by post, LSM reported. Postal voting requires several steps, and applications must be submitted by September 25.

Voters abroad can use the Central Election Commission’s website to find polling stations outside Latvia or apply to vote by post.

To apply for postal voting, visit the commission’s website, select Apply to vote by post, accept the terms of use and choose an authentication method. Applicants must then select the polling station to which they will send their vote, either the nearest station in the country where they are staying or a station in Riga.

Applicants will receive an assigned registration number. LSM said it is important to record this number because it must later be written on the envelope.

The voter will also receive the materials needed for voting, including ballot papers for all candidate lists, a declaration confirming that the vote was cast personally, instructions and information about what must be written on the postal envelope.

Voters must print the ballot paper for the list they wish to support and the declaration. The ballot paper may be left unchanged, or voters may mark candidates with “FOR” if they especially support their election or “AGAINST” if they do not.

Postal voting requires two envelopes. The selected ballot paper must be placed in the first ballot envelope, which must then be sealed. That sealed envelope and the signed declaration confirming that the vote was cast personally must be placed in the second envelope, the postal envelope.