Around 60,000 young people join Latvia’s mock elections

About 60,000 young people are taking part in mock elections at 214 educational institutions across Latvia, LSM reported. The voting began on Monday and is open to students in grades 10 to 12 and students in their first to fourth years at vocational education institutions.

The initiative aims to teach young people about elections, encourage interest in political processes and develop critical thinking.

The mock elections will continue at educational institutions until September 28. Students will count the ballots themselves, and the results will be announced on October 3 after polling stations for the 15th Saeima elections close. The mock-election results will not affect the actual election outcome.

Schools have set up polling stations with ballot boxes. Students are voting for the party lists and actual candidates standing in the 15th Saeima elections.

At the Riga Tourism and Creative Industry Technical School, students organised the mock elections themselves. During breaks, students visit an election station designed to resemble an authentic polling place as closely as possible, follow voting procedures and cast their ballots.

The oldest students are 18 or 19 years old and will vote in a real Saeima election for the first time in October. The youngest participants are 16 or 17.

“Of course, we cannot claim that 100% of all young people are enthusiastically interested in political parties. But every young person is essentially interested in what is happening in their life and in their country,” said Kārlis Zikmanis, a representative of the student council at Jelgava Spīdola State Gymnasium.

He said one of the project’s aims was to connect young people’s personal lives and futures with the choices they make.