Latvians vote in their homeland elections

The island’s Latvian population of about 1,500 were invited to vote in the election for the 14th Saeima, and Guernsey was one of the nine polling stations situated across the UK.

More than 50 people had voted within the first few hours of the polling station being open, and the team at the Constables' Office said that some voters had been queuing to get in before it even opened.

‘It’s been a very encouraging turn out so far, and the polling station is open 7am to 8pm to accommodate everyone’s working hours whether they are early or late,’ said Evita Kharroubi, who was registering the voters.

‘It’s important that as many Latvian citizens as possible vote, especially with what is going on in Ukraine right now, we need to make sure that the people we want in power, stay in power.’

Also making an appearance at the polling station was Agnes Murphy, head of the Guernsey Latvian Association, who voted with her son, Karlis Klava, and highlighted the importance of voting for their country, despite now living in Guernsey.

Many Latvian citizens who were not near a polling station voted by postal vote, however the team at the Constables' Office was expecting a Jersey resident to travel to vote in person.

‘Last year we had about 300 voters and we would like to see the same this year, but there are fewer Latvians living in Guernsey now,’ said St Peter Port douzenier Evita Bormane, the first Latvian to hold elected office in the island.

‘The polling station has been advertised lots to encourage as many people as possible to vote.’

The election is held every four years, and this year technology has allowed those hosting the polling station to scan voters’ passports to register their vote, as opposed to previous years where the passports would have to be stamped.

The polling station had to check in the amount of voters regularly with the Latvian government.