In an effort to make voting in the European Parliament elections more accessible to residents, a polling station will be set up at the „Domina Shopping“ shopping center. This initiative aims to provide voters with the opportunity to cast their ballots not only on the official election day – Saturday, June 8th, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm – but also in advance by depositing their votes for safekeeping.
The polling station at the „Domina Shopping“ shopping center will commence operations on June 3rd. The option to vote early or deposit ballots for safekeeping at this station will be available to all citizens of the Republic of Latvia with a valid identification document on three specific days: Monday, June 3rd, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, Thursday, June 6th, from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Friday, June 7th, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This opportunity is particularly beneficial for voters who will be traveling abroad or fulfilling work duties on election day and, therefore, unable to visit a polling station.
„Dina Bunce, the director of TC ‚Domina Shopping,‘ expressed her hopes that the polling station at the shopping center will facilitate the decision-making process regarding participation in the elections and encourage citizens to fulfill their civic duty. By locating the polling station in a popular shopping center, individuals can combine voting with their daily errands and enjoy quality time with family and friends,“ said Dina Bunce.
Although the polling station will only accept ballots for safekeeping on three specific days and times before the elections – Tuesday, June 4th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and Wednesday, June 5th, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm – it will operate as an information point where voters can familiarize themselves with candidate lists and pre-election programs, as informed by the shopping center.
The polling station for the European Parliament elections at TC „Domina Shopping“ (3 Ieriķu Street, Riga) will be located in the central square of the shopping center on the 1st floor, near the „Vairāk saules“ restaurant. The polling station will be easily accessible for parents with children in strollers and individuals with mobility impairments in wheelchairs.
The European Parliament elections will take place on June 8th. Eligible voters include Latvian citizens and citizens of other European Union member states who have reached the age of 18 on election day. In total, 945 polling stations will be operational throughout Latvia. Polling stations for ballot deposit will be open on Wednesday, October 3rd, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Thursday, October 4th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and Friday, October 5th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
In conclusion, the initiative to set up a polling station at the „Domina Shopping“ shopping center provides a convenient and accessible way for residents to participate in the European Parliament elections. By offering early voting and ballot deposit services, the shopping center aims to encourage voter turnout and facilitate the democratic process.