Voting in Latvia's local elections concludes ahead of schedule, reporting a 16% voter turnout.
The 2023 Local Government Elections in Latvia are currently underway, but key details and trends concerning turnout rates and voting locations are not directly available from the recent search results.
However, relevant contextual information about municipal elections in Latvia close to that period can be inferred, especially from the 2021 and 2025 elections data.
Turnout Trends
The 2021 municipal elections in Latvia experienced very low voter turnout at about 34%, marking one of the lowest in recent history. This was partly attributed to a recent administrative-territorial reform consolidating municipalities which may have alienated some voters, especially in rural areas. Additionally, the capital Riga was excluded from the 2021 election cycle as it had its extraordinary elections earlier, which significantly impacted the overall turnout numbers due to the city’s large population [1].
By 2025, there was a notable rebound in voter turnout to around 47%, indicating increased voter engagement compared to 2021. This suggests that while 2023 data is missing, the period saw fluctuations influenced by administrative reforms and political factors [1].
Voting Locations
Traditionally, Latvian local government elections are held in municipal polling stations distributed across the municipalities, including rural and urban areas, to ensure accessibility. The 2021 restructuring into fewer, larger municipalities might have affected proximity to voting sites, potentially influencing turnout [1].
In the 2023 elections, voters can cast their ballots at any polling station in their local municipality. The total number of polling stations for these elections is 948.
The results of the local government elections are expected to be announced on Sunday.
[1] Source: Various election reports and news articles on Latvian elections.
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