Latvian youth show interest in politics but rarely turn out to vote

Latvia's 15th Saeima election takes place this week, giving many young people the right to vote for the first time. Yet available data suggest this age group participates less than older voters. The Central Election Commission has no precise turnout figures for young voters in past Saeima elections, but other research offers clues. A study by University of Latvia professor Jānis Ikstens on the 2021 municipal elections found that only about a third of young people voted, while an SKDS survey on the 2022 Saeima election found 61% of respondents aged 18-24 said they had voted, though this age group was underrepresented in the sample.

Interest exists, but practical knowledge is lacking

Annija Bergmane, a social sciences teacher at the European School of Distance Education, writes that everyday classroom experience paints a different picture than the common assumption that youth are indifferent. Students have opinions and care about issues affecting their lives, but often lack knowledge about how to get practically involved. In election simulations, where students form parties and debate, they quickly realize politics affects them even before they can vote. Bergmane notes that first-time voters often find the voting process itself intimidating simply because basic procedures at a polling station are unfamiliar.

Mock elections and other forms of engagement

One way to experience the process firsthand is through "Signal Elections," a nationwide mock vote taking place this year, including at Bergmane's school, open to students regardless of age. Participants bring identification, receive party lists, and cast ballots in a booth, with students also helping count votes. Results are expected to be published on the evening of October 3, after official polling stations close. Bergmane argues civic engagement can take many forms beyond joining organizations — including single-issue projects, volunteering, or active participation on social media.

Family influence matters

Family dynamics also shape whether young people vote and how freely they express their choice. Bergmane says some students avoid revealing their voting preference to parents when it differs from the family's. She urges parents to accept that a young person's political choice may differ from their own, and to start honest conversations about politics well before children reach voting age, ideally starting in middle school.