Voting in Australia has already concluded: how many Latvians went to the polls

Australia has become one of the first countries where voting in the elections for the 15th Saeima of Latvia has concluded. According to the Central Election Commission, 603 people came to the polling stations. The highest number of voters cast their ballots in Sydney — 231 people. In Melbourne, 143 voters participated, in Adelaide — 102, in Brisbane — 70, in Perth — 37, and in Canberra — 20. In addition to voting at the polling stations, 68 registered voters in Australia were sent mail-in voting packages. By this time, voting has also concluded in Japan and South Korea. In Tokyo, 88 people voted, while in Seoul — 34. In South Korea, 28 mail-in voting packages were sent, whereas in Japan, no voter took advantage of this option. Australia traditionally concludes voting among the first due to the time difference. This allows for the first data on overseas activity to be obtained even before polling stations close in Europe. The turnout was particularly high in Sydney. According to the chairman of the local election commission, Mārtiņš Sigurds Tukten, this was facilitated by two major events of the Latvian community — the Baltic Fair and the meeting of Latvian diaspora theaters "PLATS solis," which is taking place in Sydney this year. The event gathered groups from ten countries around the world. In addition to watching 14 theatrical performances, participants had the opportunity to vote almost in one place, making the elections part of a larger event for the Latvian community. According to Tukten, the voting took place in a calm and friendly atmosphere. All systems operated without failures, and many attendees viewed the elections as an opportunity not only to fulfill their civic duty but also to meet with fellow countrymen. He also noted that most voters had already made their choice in advance, as they regularly visit Latvia, follow the political life of the country, and keep up with news on social media. After the polling stations close, the commissions will begin counting the votes. The results of the voting by the Latvian diaspora will be included in the overall election results after voting concludes in all countries. 1072. vēlēšanu iecirknis Kanberā ir slēdzis durvis! 15. Saeimas vēlēšanās vēstniecībā klātienē nobalsoja 20 vēlētāji, pa pastu – 33.Sirsnīgs paldies visiem vēlētājiem, kuri atnāca balsot, neskatoties uz pavasara negaisu ⛈️, kas bija pārņēmis galvaspilsētu! pic.twitter.com/VNd3abTeFv— Latvia in Australia (@LVinAustralia) October 3, 2026