About 5,000 register for postal voting in Latvia’s parliamentary election

About 5,000 voters have registered to vote by post in Latvia’s 15th Saeima election, while a technical problem with the registration system affected 15 users on Friday and was fixed within hours, LSM reported. The Central Election Commission said it was very dissatisfied with the error and plans to seek accountability from the State Digital Development Agency after the election.

Voters can also deposit their ballots for safekeeping at any polling station in Latvia during the week before election day. Polling stations will accept ballots on Monday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and on Friday from noon to 3 p.m.

Voters may change their choice on election day, October 3. Only the last ballot they submit will be counted. The option to deposit a ballot for safekeeping is not new, but it has been expanded this year. Central Election Commission chair Māris Zviedris said the option had previously been available at only a small number of polling stations and for only a few days.

The ballot is cast in secret. Polling staff check the voter’s documents and provide ballot papers, a sealed ballot envelope and a registration envelope. The voter places the selected ballot paper in the sealed ballot envelope, which is then placed inside the registration envelope. A polling station employee stamps the registration envelope in the voter’s presence and places it in the ballot box. The ballots remain in a sealed box until counting.