We, the citizens of Latvia, have a say in which parties and representatives will be elected to the Latvian Saeima. Let’s elect candidates who will work for a free, democratic, Latvian Latvia. Let’s vote!
The parliamentary elections will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026. 3. In Canada, Latvian citizens can vote in person in Vancouver, Edmonton, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal from 8:00 to 20:00 local time.
You can also vote by mail by registering online from August 29 to September 25. To register to vote by mail, you need a valid eID card with valid certificates. Your postal vote must reach the Latvian Embassy in Ottawa by 3 October. (In the past, you had to mail your vote to Riga. We are glad that this year you will be able to send it to Ottawa instead of Riga.)
Elections and the voting process
Can I vote in person with a valid eID card?
Yes, you can present either a valid Latvian passport or a valid eID card.
How old do I need to be to vote?
You must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day in order to vote.
Where will I be able to vote in person on October 3?
In Canada, you will be able to vote in person at five polling stations in Canada and at the Embassy in Ottawa. There will be 16 voting stations in the USA. By law, Latvian citizens can vote at any polling station anywhere in the world. Here is the full list of voting stations.
To vote, you need a valid Latvian passport OR a valid eID card.
Voting hours are from 8:00 to 20:00 local time.
Thank you to all the staff who have signed up to work at the voting stations!
Edmonton: Laurier Heights Community League, 14405 85 AVE NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5R 3Z3
Hamilton: Hamiltonas latviešu biedrības nams, 16 Queen Street North Hamilton, Ontario, L8R 2T8, CANADA
Montreal: Montreālas latviešu sabiedriskais centrs, 3955 rue Provost, Lachine, Quebec, H8T 1M1
Ottawa: 350 Sparks Street, Suite 1200, Ottawa, K1R 7S8
Toronto: Kanadas latviešu centrs Toronto, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto ON M4A 2N8
Vancouver: 6520 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6P 3Z5
Should I vote? Can my vote change anything?
Yes!
If you are a Latvian citizen, you have a responsibility to vote! Your vote can make a difference to Latvia’s independence and prosperity.
Latvia, like several European countries, uses the “Webster-Sanlage” method to determine which parties will win seats in the Saeima. Using its method, a very small number of votes can determine which parties are in or out of Parliament and how many seats they receive. With the fact that there are many parties in Latvia and no one usually gets a majority of the votes, one or two votes can determine which parties are in a coalition and whether they are pro-Russian or pro-Western.
Where can I find the list of parties and candidates?
The list of candidates can be found on the website of the Central Election Commission of Latvia: SV2026 – 2026.
There are five constituencies in Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale, Zemgale and Riga. We in the diaspora vote in the Riga constituency. There are 100 seats in the Saeima. In the 15th Saeima elections, there will be 38 seats in the Riga constituency.
A total of 14 political parties and party coalitions will be running in the election, having nominated 1,434 candidates for the 100 seats in parliament.
Pirmdien, 6. jūlijā izlozēja kandidātu sarakstu kārtas numurus. This determines the order in which the party names appear. The ballots will be arranged in that order. (#1 Sovereign Power/Union of Young Latvians …. #14 PROGRESSIVES.)
How many parties and candidates can I vote for?
You can only vote for ONE party. You must select the ballot for the party you want to support.
Each party’s ballot contains its list of candidates in numerical order (#1, #2, #3, etc.). You can leave the ballot paper unaltered (unmarked).
If you are particularly in favour of the election of a candidate, tick the “par” box opposite the candidate’s
last name. If you are not in favour of the election of a candidate, mark “pret” opposite the candidate’s
last name.
Which party should I vote for?
LNAK cannot tell you which party to vote for. Each voter should choose a party that reflects his or her own values and priorities. LNAK will strive to provide information so that Latvian citizens living in Canada can vote in a conscientious and informed manner. Parties differ from each other on various measures, including geopolitical stance (attitudes towards Europe, Ukraine, Russia), economic agenda, and social rights. We plan to organise several Zoom meetings on this topic. We have commissioned an analytical article from ir.lv journalist Paul Raudseps, which will be ready by the end of August.
I heard that if I can’t vote in person, it’s possible to apply to vote by mail. What is the process?
You can register to vote by mail between August 29 and September 25.
To vote by mail, you need:
- a valid eID card with valid digital certificates
- the PIN and PUK codes (passwords) that came with your eID card
- a Smartphone or a Smart Card reader
- a printer
You can also log in using online access to your Latvian bank account.
To apply, visit www.latvija.lv or http://www.pmlp.gov.lv
Want detailed instructions on how to vote by post? LNAK is preparing instructions, which will be published on this page.
Where can I buy a Smart Card reader?
What’s new is that you no longer need an eID card reader if you have a SmartPhone.
It is hard to find eID readers in physical shops in Canada. They can be ordered online, e.g. from Amazon. They are not that expensive. Choose a model where the photo shows a European eID. Make sure that it has the correct USB attachment, eg. USB vs USB C. (If needed, you can buy a USB to USB C adapter.) (Use the search term “European eID smart card reader”).
You can also borrow a Smart Card reader from someone else. You may wish to buy a reader that you can share with others in your community.
Please contact admin@lnak.org if you need help finding or borrowing an eID card reader.
How can I check if my digital certificates are valid?
If the eID card was issued in the last five years, the certificates should be valid. If your eID card was issued more than five years ago, you must renew the certificates in person at the embassy in Ottawa or at a mobile passport station. You can check the validity of certificates (digital signatures) here.
I can’t find my PIN and PUK codes. Is it possible to get new ones quickly so that I can apply to vote by mail?
This is possible if you act quickly. Contact the Embassy (613-238-6014) or embassy.canada@mfa.gov.lv. Then:
1) send your eID card to the embassy + enclose an extra xpresspost letter with your address (to be sent back);
or
2) you can go to the embassy and activate your new codes in person. The process takes 10 minutes.
Saeima Elections 101
