Different party polls reflect different methods

Party support figures for Latvia’s October 3 parliamentary elections differ slightly between two published polls because the organisations use different methodologies, LSM reported.

The available data come from the market and public opinion research centre SKDS and the social research agency Latvijas Fakti. Both currently place the United List in first position, but their results differ on which parties could enter parliament and which may fail to clear even the 2% threshold.

An SKDS poll conducted online from August 13 to 19 found the strongest support for six political forces: the United List, Sovereign Power and New Latvians, the Progressives, Latvia First, New Unity and the National Alliance.

Latvijas Fakti’s latest published figures suggest that seven parties and alliances could enter parliament, adding the Union of Greens and Farmers to that list.

SKDS uses a large online panel

Researchers say poll results cannot always be compared directly because the surveys use different methods.

SKDS’s two latest surveys on voters’ choices in the upcoming elections were conducted exclusively online. The centre uses an internet panel, a large database of potential respondents and their contact details. It selects participants according to age, gender, place of residence, nationality and spoken language.

Latvijas Fakti combines in-person and phone interviews

Oksana Kurcalte, a senior project manager at Latvijas Fakti, said online surveys mainly reach people who already actively follow political developments. In-person and telephone interviews can reach a broader group of residents.

She also said that people are psychologically less likely to refuse to take part when approached in person. Latvijas Fakti conducts telephone interviews without relying on databases.