Every vote counts in the European Parliament elections

Exactly one month later – on June 8 – we will elect the deputies who will represent Latvia’s interests in the European Parliament for the fifth time. Statistics show that only slightly more than 30 percent of eligible voters use their opportunity to participate in the elections, most often citing as an argument that they do not see the point of it. As ReTV points out in the Central Election Commission (CEC), every vote is important, especially in this geopolitical situation.

There is a month left until the European Parliament elections. As CVK explains to ReTV, currently all preparations are proceeding according to plan. However, the addressed residents apparently do not think about the elections yet. For several people from Riga who spoke to ReTV, garden work seems more important than which representatives we will send to Europe, and this is also reflected in the statistics. In the previous 2019 European Parliament elections, only 33.53% of the 1.4 million eligible voters participated in the elections.

The survey conducted in April by the research center SKDS, commissioned by the Central Election Commission, shows that 29.5% of respondents definitely participate in the elections, while 34.3% said that they would rather participate. Of those surveyed who did not participate in the elections or would rather not participate, the majority – 35.6% – indicated that they do not see the point in it, so it is better to stay away. CVK chairman Kristīne Saulīte: “I would say that it is the worst thing to do, because in the end we have this great opportunity for everyone to express their will. If we don’t, someone else will. It is very likely that individuals will be elected who may not represent Latvia’s values ​​at all. Those values ​​that are important to each of us. Because its voice is very important.”

In our electoral system, it is possible to highlight a candidate by drawing a plus sign or crossing it out, but if all candidates are crossed out, one vote will be given to the party on the respective list. Also, the excuse of being busy on election day is not an argument, because polling stations will open their doors already on June 6. Saulite: “It is not the transfer of votes for storage. It is an advance real vote. It is June 6 and 7 – Thursday and Friday. There are different times. And then, of course, June 8 – the whole day when we vote.”

Unlike other elections, on June 8, all 945 polling stations will be open from eight in the morning to eight in the evening. As Saulīte explains, the election results will be known only after the next day at 23.00, when the last polling station in Europe will be closed. In the elections of the European Parliament, every eligible voter can make his choice at any polling station. Both passports and ID cards will be valid for personal identification.