A national referendum to strike controversial amendments to two of Latvia’s national security laws has failed to gather enough voters, but otherwise results show resounding opposition to the government.

A total of 337,897 citizens voted in Latvia and abroad in the July 7 referendum, which was more than 115,000 short of the number required to make it count. At least 50 percent of the number of voters in the 2006 Saeima election—a total of 453,730—had to participate.

That enough interest in the vote could not be generated is being viewed by some politicians as a sign that the government opposition is weak.

Those who did vote, however, cast strong votes in favor of annulling the amendments first approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in January. On both of two referendum questions, more than 95 percent of those voting said they were for striking the amendments, according to results tallied by the Central Election Commission in Rīga.

At the Latvian community center in Indianapolis, voters came in spurts. Some drove themselves to the polling station, while others took advantage of a minibus provided by the American Latvian Association that ferried voters from the 12th National Latvian Song and Dance Festival taking place downtown. By the end of the day, said election judge Sanita Pēkale, a total of 308 Latvian citizens had voted in Indianapolis.

Just three days before Latvia’s national referendum on amendments to two security laws, a second polling station abroad has been dropped, according to the Central Election Commission in Rīga. The polling station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will not operate on July 7.

The Embassy of Latvia in Kazakhstan was dropped from the list on June 12.

The election commission’s decision to strike the Argentina location from the list of polling stations came after a request from the MInistry of Foreign Affairs. Mirdza Zalts, the honorary consul in Buenos Aires, told the Foreign Ministry she has developed health problems and will not be able to guarantee operation of the polling station, the commission said in a July 4 press release.

Because the Latvian community in Argentina is so small, no other polling station can be organized in time for the referendum. In last year’s parliamentary election, just 43 voters cast ballots in Argentina.

That leaves 46 locations outside of Latvia where voters may cast ballots on the referendum.

This is the first time a polling station has been dropped this close to a vote, Arnis Cimdars, chairperson of the election commission, said in the press release. The situation also points to the need to reconsider how polling stations are assigned outside of Latvia, he added. The election commission will present a proposal to the parliament this autumn.

Polling stations in Latvia and abroad will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. To vote in the referendum, voters must be at least 18 years of age and must present a valid Latvian passport.

A complete list of polling stations abroad is available from the Central Election Commission’s Web site.

Thirty-one choirs totaling about 500 singers and 34 folk dance ensembles with about 720 dancers are expected to perform during the 12th Latvian Song Festival in the United States, held this year from July 4-8 in Indianapolis, Ind.

With a theme of “Dziesma, deja – latvju seja” (Song, dance: The Latvian presence), the festival will mirror Latvians’ strong ties to folk songs and dances, the organizing committee said in a press release.

Among highlights of the festival will be the grand joint choir concert, which will include the cantata “Lielā junda Brāļu kapos,” the performance of which will be directed by its composer, Imants Rāmiņš. Besides choirs from across the United States and Canada, the grand concert will include Kamerkoris Ventspils from Latvia.

Twenty-two folk dances and choreographed works are scheduled for the grand dance performance. Among participating dance ensembles will be Līgo, one of the best from Latvia.

Also planned for the song festival are performances of the Anšlavs Eglītis and Andrejs Jansons musical “Homo novus,” the traditional new choreography show, the cabaret show “Kabaremonts” which will unite some of the best known singers in the United States, and a distinguished artists’ concert featuring performances by Pauls Berkholds, Andrew Martens and Laila Saliņa.

The song festival will take place in various venues in downtown Indianapolis, but will be centered at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown hotel.

The second-to-last day of the festival, July 7, coincides with Latvia’s national referendum on amendments to two security laws. To accommodate Latvian citizens who wish to vote, a polling station will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Latvian Community Center, 1008 W. 64th St., Indianapolis. The American Latvian Association will operate a shuttle from the song festival to the pollling station throughout the day.

The song festival schedule includes:

• July 4: Opening program, a concert of spiritual music, a folk costume show, a get-acquainted dance and the “Kabaremonts” cabaret show.
• July 5: The “Kabaremonts” cabaret show, the new choreography show, a men’s choir concert, a performance of “Homo novus” and a social evening.
• July 6: A concert by Kamerkoris Ventspils, the grand folk dance perforance, and two balls, one for youth and one for those “who are young at heart.”
• July 7: A morning presentation by Latvian writers, a performance by the folk dance troupe Līgo, the grand choir concert, a performance of “Homo novus” and the festival ball.
• July 8: An ecumenical church service, a folk song concert, the song festival lunch and the distinguished artists’ concert.

For further information, visit the official song festival Web site.