In the Ogre region, election day is taking place with high voter turnout. Due to the large number of people wishing to vote, additional ballots and envelopes have started to be delivered to polling stations, reported Nikolai Sapozhnikov, the chairman of the regional electoral commission. According to him, the situation was most tense in the middle of the day. Long queues formed at all major polling stations, prompting the commissions to recruit additional staff to expedite voter service. The additional delivery of ballots and envelopes does not indicate an emergency situation. On the contrary, it is a standard measure to ensure the smooth operation of polling stations during high turnout. The commission expects that as evening approaches, the flow of voters will decrease, and the queues will shorten. Mobile voting forms have been organized for residents of remote areas. One commission operated in a regular facility throughout the day, while another was located in a special bus in Dzelme, Yumprava parish. This decision was made due to the lack of public transport and the large distance to the nearest polling station. Quite a number of residents also took the opportunity to vote at home. In the morning, commission members went to the hospital and nursing home, and after noon began visiting voters who had submitted the appropriate requests in advance. This year, special attention was also paid to the uninterrupted operation of polling stations. All 28 stationary polling stations in the Ogre region were equipped with backup generators in case of possible power outages. According to the chairman of the regional commission, there has been no need to use the backup equipment so far, but such preparation helps avoid disruptions in the event of unforeseen situations. The commission also positively assessed the preparations for the elections, noting that the timely training materials prepared by the Central Electoral Commission helped staff quickly master all procedures. Voting in the elections for the 15th Saeima continues until 20:00. If voter activity remains high, the commissions are ready to continue working in an enhanced mode until the polling stations close.
