Voter turnout in Riga outpaces national average, bigger Saturday surge expected

Ilmārs Pilinieks, chairman of the Riga municipal Election Commission, says voter turnout in the capital during the 15th Saeima parliamentary elections has exceeded the national average, with an even larger influx of voters expected on Saturday compared to the recent municipal elections.

Pilinieks noted that the commission had anticipated an even higher turnout during the earlier voting period, but still considers the current figures positive. Organizers had prepared for turnout to potentially reach 20% during that earlier stage. No major issues have been recorded at polling stations so far, though some stations initially faced questions about certain procedures.

Turnout at polling stations

According to data compiled by the Central Election Commission, 68,321 voters — or 11.4% of eligible voters — had cast ballots in the Riga electoral district by Friday. The highest activity has been recorded at polling stations located inside shopping centers. The busiest station was at the "Domina Shopping" mall, where 1,734 people voted, followed by "Origo" with 1,452 voters and "Galleria Rīga" with 1,259. More than a thousand voters also cast ballots at polling stations in "Akropole Rīga," "Akropole Alfa," and the "Stockmann" department store.

Preparations for election day

Pilinieks explained that the commission has prepared for various possible scenarios on election day, while acknowledging that no institution can guarantee against unforeseen situations entirely. Overall, he said, preparations have proceeded successfully.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Pilinieks predicted turnout would exceed the level seen in Riga during the municipal elections. He recalled that turnout for municipal elections in the capital had previously been lower than for Saeima elections, which is why greater voter engagement is expected in this parliamentary vote.