Expanded early voting draws more than 169,600 voters before Latvian election

More than 169,600 voters cast ballots early ahead of Latvia’s 15th Saeima election, and overall participation has reached 11.20% when postal voting applications are included, LSM reported.

For the first time in a Saeima election, voters could deposit their ballots for safekeeping at every polling station in Latvia during all five days before election day. The option was available from September 28 to October 2. Nearly 4,907 people also applied to vote by post.

The Central Election Commission said 10.89% of eligible voters had deposited ballots early. That is more than twice the 4.11% who did so before the 14th Saeima election in 2022, and about five times the shares recorded in the 2018 and 2014 elections.

Voters can change their choice until election day on October 3. If someone votes more than once, including by post and through a ballot deposited for safekeeping, only their last vote will count. The final participation rate may therefore change slightly.

Early voting was introduced for Saeima elections starting with the 12th parliamentary election, but previously it was available for fewer days and at fewer polling stations.