High voter participation may not be a certainty in the forthcoming Latvian local elections this week
Local Elections in Latvia: Voter Turnout Remains a Concern
As the local elections in Latvia approach on June 7, the Central Election Commission (CVK) has revealed some concerning trends regarding voter turnout. According to their survey, only 35% of eligible voters have confirmed they will definitely participate in the elections, with 13% admitting they will definitely not vote.
These figures represent a slight increase from April, where 30% of respondents had confirmed their participation, and 15% had stated they would not vote. However, the overall outlook remains grim, with approximately one-fifth of the population indicating they have no intention of following the local elections.
The main reasons for not participating, according to both the CVK survey and professor Jānis Ikstens of the University of Latvia, are disappointment in politics and politicians, as well as a lack of belief that voting changes anything. Indifference to politics, distrust of politicians, and disbelief in the electoral process are also cited as significant factors.
Researcher Iveta Kažoka has expressed hope that the election turnout will not be lower than 40%, but she acknowledges that it cannot be predicted with certainty. She also expressed skepticism about the CVK's forecast that up to 73% of all Latvian residents eligible to vote could participate, stating it would be atypical for Latvian local elections.
The electoral system, political engagement, economic and social factors, demographic factors, bureaucratic and administrative factors, and external influences are all known to impact voter turnout. However, without specific data or studies on the 2021 Latvian municipal elections, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for the low turnout.
Possible explanations include a lack of compelling candidates and party platforms, low trust in political institutions, and voter fatigue. Other factors, such as the weather on election day, may also play a role.
It is worth noting that four years ago, local elections were not held in Rīga. In total, 948 polling stations will operate in the local elections, with the voting taking place from June 2 to 6 for early voting, and on June 7 for the main election day.
Despite the low turnout, there is a slight increase in public interest, with 55% of respondents following the elections, up from 40% in April. The local elections on June 7 will be held in 42 electoral districts.
[1] Bartels, L. M., & Gelman, A. (2014). The paradox of voting: Why voters choose not to vote. Oxford University Press.
[2] Shapiro, R. A., & Shapiro, M. (2013). The political process: Politics, people, and power. Sage Publications.
[3] Reynolds, J. (2005). The politics of voter registration: How institutional factors affect citizen participation. University of Michigan Press.
- The Central Election Commission (CVK) has revealed that only 35% of eligible voters have confirmed they will definitely participate in the upcoming local elections in Latvia, with 13% admitting they will definitely not vote.
- Professor Jānis Ikstens of the University of Latvia suggests that the main reasons for not participating in the local elections are disappointment in politics and politicians, as well as a lack of belief that voting changes anything.
- Researcher Iveta Kažoka expresses hope that the election turnout will not be lower than 40%, but acknowledges that it cannot be predicted with certainty, citing the electoral system, political engagement, economic and social factors, demographic factors, bureaucratic and administrative factors, and external influences as potential factors impacting voter turnout.
- According to bibliographic sources such as Bartels and Gelman's "The paradox of voting: Why voters choose not to vote" and Shapiro and Shapiro's "The political process: Politics, people, and power", research on voter turnout suggests factors like a lack of compelling candidates and party platforms, low trust in political institutions, and voter fatigue as possible reasons for low voter participation.
- Reynolds' "The politics of voter registration: How institutional factors affect citizen participation" provides insights on how institutional factors can affect citizen participation in elections, which may be relevant to understanding the low voter turnout in the 2021 Latvian municipal elections.
