Latvians head to the polls

Latvian citizens seem to spend a lot of time at the ballot box. If it’s not a regularly scheduled Saeima or municipal election, or voting for members of the European Parliament, then it’s a referendum on some hot issue. Latvian citizens living abroad — recent migrants as well as émigrés who left their homeland during World War II and later regained their Latvian citizenship — also get to cast ballots. Here's our coverage of Latvian elections.

Election 2011

Saeima confirms new government (25 Oct 2011)

President invites Dombrovskis to form Latvia’s next government (19 Oct 2011)

Proposed coalition begins to fray as 6 ZRP deputies turn independent (16 Oct 2011)

ZRP, Unity, National Alliance announce plans for coalition rule (14 Oct 2011)

Commission certifies Saeima election results, releases new MP list (05 Oct 2011)

Zatlers wants Dombrovskis as PM in coalition with Unity, Harmony Centre (30 Sep 2011)

Election is victory for pro-western parties and a vote against corruption (22 Sep 2011)

Election turnout abroad best since 1993; London again sees most voters (18 Sep 2011)

Harmony Centre, Zatlers, Unity claim most votes in Saeima election (17 Sep 2011)

Voting closes, counting to begin in Latvia; balloting still on in Americas (17 Sep 2011)

Number of eligible voters abroad tops 50,000; most in U.S., U.K., Germany (16 Sep 2011)

17. septembrī izdarīt gudru izvēli ar interneta palīdzību (14 Sep 2011)

Deflated passion evident in buildup to Saeima election; polls results differ (13 Sep 2011)

Absentee ballot applications drop 40% (08 Sep 2011)

Cables show U.S. embassy expressed concern about Harmony Centre (03 Sep 2011)

Number of dual citizens running in Latvia’s Saeima election doubles (26 Aug 2011)

Election commission strikes two names from Christian Democrats (26 Aug 2011)

13 parties to vie for 11th Saeima (20 Aug 2011)

Polling places to include Scotland, but Chile and Venezuela dropped (16 Aug 2011)

Zatlers makes his political mark, but not without controversy (12 Aug 2011)

Līdz 3. septembrim vēlētāji ārvalstīs var pieteikties balsot pa pastu (03 Aug 2011)

Saeima election set for Sept. 17 (26 Jul 2011)

Referendum on dissolving the Saeima

Court allows Feb. 18 referendum, but will consider law’s constitutionality (20 Jan 2012)

Diaspora leaders ask Latvians worldwide to vote against referendum (16 Jan 2012)

Great Russia’s divine nationalistic mission (16 Jan 2012)

Commission clarifies referendum question; absentee ballot requests due Feb. 4 (11 Jan 2012)

Voters left puzzled over weeks of post-election coalition-building (16 Oct 2011)

Saeima election set for Sept. 17 (26 Jul 2011)

London and the U.K. top Saeima referendum voting activity abroad (24 Jul 2011)

Latvia to 10th Saeima: You’re fired! (23 Jul 2011)

Saulkrasti registers highest turnout as referendum polls close in Latvia (23 Jul 2011)

Around the globe, Latvians head to polls to vote on Saeima’s dissolution (22 Jul 2011)

Polling stations open in preparation for referendum on Saeima’s dismissal (13 Jul 2011)

People’s Party votes to dissolve; Zatlers readies new movement (09 Jul 2011)

Referendum on Saeima to have record number of polling stations abroad (21 Jun 2011)

No referendum on school language as signature drive falls short — officials (10 Jun 2011)

Election commission slates July 23 as date for Saeima referendum (30 May 2011)

Signature collection underway to require Latvian as language of schools (12 May 2011)

Commission OKs signature drive for amendment on school language (11 Apr 2011)

Election 2010

New coalition is considerable achievement (09 Nov 2010)

President invites Dombrovskis to form new Latvian government (02 Nov 2010)

Vienotība announces picks for 7 ministries in new government (29 Oct 2010)

Veto ousts nationalists from new government; 2 parties remain in talks (25 Oct 2010)

Next government of Latvia likely to be three-party coalition (22 Oct 2010)

Latvia awaits word on makeup of new Dombrovskis government (20 Oct 2010)

Election commission releases final list of candidates elected to 10th Saeima (18 Oct 2010)

London tops in voter activity abroad; turnout best since 1995 election (05 Oct 2010)

Vienotība takes most votes in election, while Saskaņas Centrs fares well (02 Oct 2010)

Voter turnout in Latvia and abroad tops 2006 parliamentary election (02 Oct 2010)

Zatlers urges citizens at home and abroad to vote for Latvia’s future (01 Oct 2010)

Deadline looms for election monitors; applicants abroad number just 3 (29 Sep 2010)

Dokuments par latvieša stāju svešumā rakstīts 1947. gadā, bet aktuāls šodien (28 Sep 2010)

Campaign splutters to finish line, but real issues must not be ignored (23 Sep 2010)

Polling stations open for 10 days to help voters prepare for election (21 Sep 2010)

Citizens abroad request nearly 900 absentee ballots for Oct. 2 election (15 Sep 2010)

ELJA50: ‘Par Labu Latviju!’ newsletter discriminates against sexual minorities (14 Sep 2010)

Politiskās apvienības ‘Visu Latvijai!’ mērķis – latviska Latvija (13 Sep 2010)

Commission seeks volunteer monitors for Oct. 2 parliamentary election (11 Sep 2010)

Second online talk with candidates and Latvians abroad set for Sept. 11 (10 Sep 2010)

Latvijai zemākais punkts, bet kas tālāk? (09 Sep 2010)

Public policy center opens website for discussion between voters, candidates (03 Sep 2010)

Two weeks remain to apply for absentee ballots in Saeima election (26 Aug 2010)

Passport project serves 1,247 citizens (24 Aug 2010)

Amerikas latvieši apmeklē vēlēšanu iecirkņu vadītāju apmācības (19 Aug 2010) LV

Publication aims to inform Latvians abroad about parliamentary election (15 Aug 2010)

Commission scratches 5 candidates from election, 7 more may face hook (11 Aug 2010)

Dombrovskis: Economic indicators suggest recession in Latvia is over (09 Aug 2010)

Run-up to October’s Saeima election features alliances, conflicts (08 Aug 2010)

Drawing determines order of candidate lists (06 Aug 2010)

13 parties field 1,200 candidates for Oct. 2 parliamentary election (03 Aug 2010)

In U.S., mobile passport effort sees more than 700 applications (01 Aug 2010)

Absentee ballot requests trickle in for Saeima election set Oct. 2 (23 Jul 2010)

Harmony Centre is first to file for upcoming Saeima election (15 Jul 2010)

Vienotība: Next Saeima should amend law to allow dual citizenship (09 Jul 2010)

Officials bring passport station to U.S.; Canada, Australia are next (06 Jul 2010)

As Saeima election approaches, parties jockey for position (08 Jun 2010)

Cabinet approves passport project to serve 1,800 citizens abroad (08 Jun 2010)

Officials tell Saeima extra funds needed for mobile passport plan (04 Jun 2010)

Latvia plans mobile passport centers this summer in U.S., Canada (17 May 2010)

ALA meklē ceļu uz aktīvāku piedalīšanos Saeimas vēlēšanās (14 May 2010) LV

In Latvia, a false calm after the coup (11 May 2010)

People’s Party quits government, coalition now in minority (17 Mar 2010)

Unity has potential, but faces rocky road (14 Mar 2010)

Latvia awaits a political thaw (16 Feb 2010)

Tuvojoties vēlēšanām, vēstniecība ASV aicina pārbaudīt pases (28 Jan 2010) LV

ALA, PBLA gatavojas 10. Saeimas vēlēšanām (05 Nov 2009)

Survey seeks input from U.S. Latvians on next Saeima election (01 Oct 2009)

Europarliament 2009

Data on Europarliament vote abroad mingled with prisoners’ ballots (09 Jun 2009)

Civil Union, Harmony Centre lead in Europarliament vote (07 Jun 2009)

Rīga goes to Harmony Centre, but Civil Union fares surprisingly well (07 Jun 2009)

Exit poll: Harmony Centre takes Rīga, while Civil Union does well (06 Jun 2009)

U.S., Australia lead in European Parliament absentee ballot requests (05 Jun 2009)

Thousands casting early ballots in local, Europarliament elections (04 Jun 2009)

Šlesers support group in Chicago disbands under pressure (27 May 2009)

Dealing with the deficit and with Rubiks (12 May 2009)

Vai Eiroparlamentā Latviju pārstāvēs komunists? (22 Apr 2009)

Deadlines near for Europarliament absentee ballots (06 Apr 2009)

Five dual citizens among Europarliament candidates (28 Mar 2009)

Referendum 2008

Latvian politics in the shadow of Georgia (18 Sep 2008)

Referendum records just 1,000 votes abroad (24 Aug 2008)

Pension referendum falls far short of goal (23 Aug 2008)

Polls ready for referendum on higher pensions (22 Aug 2008)

Tauta jums ir devusi uzdevumu (06 Aug 2008)

Dublin earns No. 1 in voter turnout abroad (03 Aug 2008)

2,300 voters turn out abroad, but referendum fails (02 Aug 2008)

Polls ready for vote on Saeima recall amendments (01 Aug 2008)

Valdošajai elitei ir bailes no aktīvas, prasīgas sabiedrības (24 Jul 2008)

Referendum on boosting pensions set Aug. 23 (04 Jul 2008)

Adelaide, Sydney withdraw from mail ballot processing (17 Jun 2008)

Commission sets referendum polling places abroad (13 Jun 2008)

Referendum to allow Saeima’s recall set Aug. 2 (09 Jun 2008)

Referendum 2007

Zatlers to promulgate dead security law amendments (16 Jul 2007)

Indianapolis tops referendum activity abroad (09 Jul 2007)

Referendum fails to garner voter interest (08 Jul 2007)

Commission closes Argentina polling station (04 Jul 2007)

To the referendum! (01 Jul 2007)

ALA provides bus for song festival voters (01 Jul 2007)

Election commission drops Kazakhstan from voting sites (12 Jun 2007)

July 7 polling stations expand, include Indianapolis (24 May 2007)

Commission sets referendum absentee ballot deadlines (16 May 2007)

Referendum scheduled for July 7 (08 May 2007)

Will the referendum change Latvia’s politics? (04 May 2007)

Security law referendum seems assured (03 May 2007)

Symbolic signatures support referendum drive (30 Apr 2007)

Referendum drive nears 75 percent mark (26 Apr 2007)

Petition drive continues, but limps along abroad (22 Apr 2007)

PBLA supports referendum on security law changes (11 Apr 2007)

Signature drive begins for security law referendum (03 Apr 2007)

Election 2006

We may all be in for a tough four years (07 Feb 2007)

Saeima approves new coalition government (08 Nov 2006)

Kalvītis destined for second term as PM (01 Nov 2006)

The coalition is dead; long live the coalition (07 Oct 2006)

Latvian voters worldwide head to ballot box (06 Oct 2006)

Latvia faces desperate Saeima election (30 Sep 2006)

Party Web sites improve, but could be better (27 Sep 2006)

Polling stations in U.S. open for information visits (26 Sep 2006)

Absentee ballot applications top 500 (21 Sep 2006)

Blogger: don’t vote, but push for change (11 Sep 2006)

Vote-by-mail requests slow in coming (05 Sep 2006)

President: citizens should be required to vote (01 Sep 2006)

A curious system and a curious election (30 Aug 2006)

Jaunais laiks support group creates Web site (28 Aug 2006)

Saeima election scheduled Oct. 7 (11 Aug 2006)

Visiem ir iespējas un pienākums piedalīties (25 May 2006)

Kalniete re-enters politics, joins Jaunais laiks (31 Jan 2006)

Europarliament 2004

Opposition victorious in Europarliament vote (13 Jun 2004)

Europarliament exit polls show TB/LNNK on top (12 Jun 2004)

Online, parties offer sparse EU election info (05 Jun 2004)

Europarliament ballots to Canada delayed (04 Jun 2004)

Need an absentee ballot for Europarliament? (06 Apr 2004)

Referendum 2003

Latvians abroad give overwhelming support to EU (20 Sep 2003)

Battle for EU membership is far from over (22 Aug 2003)

Election 2002

From horse race to horse-trading (28 Oct 2002)

An election postmortem (15 Oct 2002)

Jaunais laiks wins; voter turnout shrinks abroad (05 Oct 2002)

What’s so new about New Era? (30 Sep 2002)

Look to the left, look to the right… (13 Sep 2002)

Voting in Latvia can be confusing (30 Aug 2002)

Voters in Brazil may lack information (23 Aug 2002)

Deadline nears for vote-by-mail applications (19 Aug 2002)

Changes in election law benefit Latvians abroad (01 Jun 2002)

Election 2001

Strong turnout expected in local elections (11 Mar 2001)