Applications for voting by mail from abroad must be made by May 31.
Some people have already tried to vote by mail from Latvia, but such a vote will not be valid, because postal voting is intended for voters in foreign countries, and the shipment must come from a foreign country, explained the head of the Central Election Commission.
Employees of the postal polling station contacted the few voters who tried to vote by mail from Latvia, informing them about this situation and what their voting options are provided by law. Saulite pointed out that voters staying abroad can vote, either in a foreign country by voting by mail, or on election day, June 8, by voting in one of 50 polling stations abroad.
The head of the Central Election Commission emphasized that this time, for the EP elections, there is an easier procedure for voting by mail for voters living in foreign countries.
As reported, until May 31, voters who will be staying abroad during the 2024 EP elections can apply to vote by mail from abroad using the “Voter data management” e-service of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Board (PMLP), the LETA agency was informed by the institution.
The e-service is available on the PMLP website “pmlp.gov.lv” and on the portal of state administration services “Latvija.gov.lv”.
A voter who has applied to vote by mail from abroad will have the opportunity to download voting materials in the e-service and choose a ballot that corresponds to the list of candidates he wants to vote for.
The voter will have to print the chosen ballot and put it in the ballot envelope of his choice. This envelope should be sent to CVK Smilšu iela 4, Riga, LV-1050 with such calculation that it will be received at the polling station by June 9 at 6 a.m. Latvian time zone.
The CVK website states that only Latvian voters residing abroad can vote by mail.
In the EP elections, Latvian citizens abroad will be able to vote in a total of 50 polling stations, of which 38 will be located in Latvian diplomatic and consular missions, and 12 were created on the initiative of the diaspora.
