How to vote in Latvia

The European elections in Latvia will take place on 8 June, 2024.

Voters will elect nine Latvian Members of the European Parliament in 2024.

Under EU law, all countries must use voting systems that ensure proportional representation. This means that the number of elected Members from each party depends on the share of electoral votes obtained by the party. Latvia uses preferential voting, which gives the voters the option to indicate their preferences within the party list they choose. Candidates who receive the most preferences are more likely to be elected.

Candidate lists are submitted from 25 January to 9 February 2024. More information about the submitted candidate lists are available on the website of the Central Election Commission of Latvia (in Latvian).

Candidate lists are submitted from 25 January to 9 February 2024. More information about the submitted candidate lists are available on the website of the Central Election Commission of Latvia (in Latvian).

Political parties need to pass a 5% threshold to be elected to the Europea Parliament.

In Latvia there is just one national constituency. This means that eligible voters across the country choose from the same list of candidates.

There is no obligation to vote in Latvia.

You are eligible to vote in the European elections in Latvia if you are:

1. at least 18 years old on election day
2. a Latvian citizen
3. an EU citizen having voting rights in the EU country you are from and being registered in a residents register in Latvia

Latvian or EU citizen voting in Latvia
You may vote at any polling station within the country.
Polling stations will be open on the day of the elections, but also a few days before.
Early voting at polling stations in Latvia will take place on 3, 6 and 7 June.
A list of polling stations are available on the website of the Central Election Commission of Latvia (in Latvian).

Latvian citizen voting from abroad
You can vote by mail or vote in person at any polling station in another country that has been approved by the Central Election Commission. A list of polling stations are available on the website of the Central Election Commission of Latvia (in Latvian).

Latvian citizen voting in Latvia
You do not need to register in advance as Latvian national authorities automatically register you.

EU citizen voting in Latvia
You have to submit a request to the Central Election Commission of Latvia to be entered on the Latvian voters register. The request could be handed over directly, by mail or electronically, if you sign it with a secure electronic signature. The application form and information can be found on the website of the Central Election Commission of Latvia (in Latvian).

Latvian citizen voting from abroad
You do not need to register in advance as Latvian national authorities automatically register you.

• If you intend to vote in person in a polling station setup by your embassy or your consulate, you do not need to announce your intention to vote.
  
• If you intend to vote by mail, you must apply to vote by email via the e-service "Voters register".
  

More information is available at the website of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

You need to bring a valid passport or your ID card.

If you are physically unable to vote or sign the register of voters, another person whom you trust may do so in your presence according to your instructions.
If you cannot be present at the polling station due to health reasons, you may vote at your own location by making prior arrangements with the polling station.
These rules also apply to the carers of such voters. No later than 20 May 2024, information on the accessibility of polling stations for wheelchair voters will be available on the website of the Central Election Commission. You will also find there information on election programmes, candidates and lists of candidates in an audiovisual format.

You may find easy-to-read information about European elections on the easy-to-read page of this website and on the Central Election Comission's website.

You can vote by mail in case you are abroad at the time of the election.
From 4 to 31 May, voters can apply to vote by post abroad and receive election materials electronically using the e-service "Voters register". The voter will have to print out the voting materials, make their choice and send their vote back to the polling station commission for postal voting in Riga so that it is received by the time the counting starts (the morning of 9 June 2024).
More information is available the website of the Central Election Commission of Latvia (in Latvian).

No, you cannot vote online in Latvia.

You can vote by proxy if you are physically unable to vote or sign the list of voters. In this case, a member of your family or another person you authorise to vote on your behalf shall, in your presence, make the marks on the ballot paper or sign the list of voters in accordance with your instructions. Such a person may be a member of the polling station commission, provided that he or she has been trained in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Central Election Commission and has given a written undertaking that he or she will not influence the voter's vote.
More information will be available at the website of the Central Election Commission.