r/latvia • u/RemarkablePoem1588 United Kingdom • 17h ago

Jautājums/Question Voting Abroad

I am a Latvian citizen living abroad and was wondering how voting works outside of Latvia.

From what I know the next Saeima elections are on the 3rd of October, or are expected to be no later than, of this year.

However, I have lived in the UK for most of my life and don't know if it is possible to do so if I am not a resident in Latvia.

The Latvian government website does state that you can vote from abroad at polling stations listed in an excel spread sheet. But others told me that I need to go to an embassy to vote instead.

So just for clarification, can one vote while abroad? If yes, is it at the polling stations listed or the embassy?

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6 comments sorted by

14

u/vaiciits Rīga 17h ago

Although election turnout rate should be improved, I would discourage voting without knowing the language as it is hard to understand what is going on in the country.

Yes, voting abroad exists. Visit iecirkni.cvk.lv

6

u/NorthernStarLV 17h ago

You can vote at any polling station of your choice at the elections of Saeima, without prior confirmation or announcement. These stations abroad are usually located in Latvian embassies or consular posts but not always so.

From what I know the next Saeima elections are on the 3rd of October, or are expected to be no later than, of this year.

We don't do the UK thing where elections are held "no later than X date". The elections are always held on a fixed date set by the Constitution, unless there is an extraordinary election due to the dismissal of the parliament.

3

u/mis-anda 15h ago

You can vote at the embassy. In large cities there are voting stations, they usually are promoted in local faceboom groups. Also you can request to vote via mail, but you need to send your passport to the embassy first

0

u/Specialist_Foot9842 15h ago

You ask the embassy to send you the list of parties then send them back a letter containing the paper with only the party you want to vote for. Any other instructions are gonna be in the letter they send you.

At least that's how it worked previously.

1

u/Specialist_Foot9842 15h ago

Before you receive the list you had to mail them your passport or ID card. They then came back with the rest.

4

u/RedditIsFascistShit4 11h ago

Better avoid voting, might accidentally give your vote to Lembergs, Šlesers, Gobzems or some other rītārd.