REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON THE AMENDMENT OF THE LAW ON ELECTIONS TO THE SEIMAS (Valstybës Þinios, 1992, No.22-635, No.24-710; 1993, No.10- 234; 1994, No.89-1718; 1995, No.7-142) Article

1. Newly Revised Version of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Elections to the Seimas The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Elections to the Seimas shall be amended and set forth to read as follows: "REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON ELECTIONS TO THE SEIMAS I. GENERAL PROVISIONS Article
2. The Principles of Elections of Seimas Members Members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (hereafter referred to as "the Seimas") shall be elected for a four-year term in one-candidate or multi-candidate electoral areas on the basis of universal and equal suffrage, by secret ballot in direct mixed system elections. Article
3. Universal Suffrage
4. Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who on the day of the election are 18 years of age shall have the right to vote. Citizens who have been declared legally incompetent by court shall not participate in elections.
5. Any citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is not connected with a foreign state by oath or pledge and is at least 25 years of age on the day of elections, and permanently resides in Lithuania may be elected as Seimas member. When establishing for a citizen, who has arrived in Lithuania from another State for residency, a fact of permanent residence, a one-year period established in the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Persons Considered Permanent Residents or Residents of the Republic of Lithuania shall not apply to. The fact of permanent residence established in this way shall be recognised as important only according to the Law on Elections to the Seimas.
6. Persons who, with 65 days remaining before elections, have not completed a court-imposed sentence, as well as persons who have been declared legally incompetent and of diminished responsibility by the court may not be elected as Seimas members.
7. Persons who on the day of elections are in the active or alternative service, as well as officers, non-commissioned officers and re-enlistees of the national defence system, police and the internal affairs service who, with 65 days remaining before elections, have not retired from service, and officers of other militarised and security services who are on the payroll may not be elected as Seimas members.
8. Other direct or indirect abridgements of the right to vote of the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania on the grounds of their descent, political convictions, social or property status, nationality, sex, education, language, religion, or the type or character of their occupation shall be prohibited. Article
9. Equal Suffrage Every citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who has the right to vote shall have one vote in a one-candidate electoral area and a multi-candidate electoral area, and these votes shall have the same value as the votes of every citizen who has the right to vote. Every voter shall have an equal right to express his opinion about the candidates who are entered in the list of candidates for which he votes in a multi-candidate area, and this opinion shall have the same value as the opinion of every voter who has voted for this list. Article
10. Direct Elections There shall be no voting by proxy in elections of Seimas members. Article
11. Secret Ballot
12. Voters shall vote in person and by secret ballot. It shall be prohibited for a person to vote instead of another person or to vote by proxy. A voter who, because of his physical disability, cannot cast a ballot himself, may vote with the assistance of another person whom he trusts, as it is provided in paragraph 6 of Article 65 of this Law. If someone gets to know the secret of another person's voting, it shall be prohibited to divulge it.
13. Controlling the will of the voters in elections shall be prohibited. It shall be prohibited to influence the will of an elector to vote for or against any candidate or the list of candidates. An elector must be provided with the conditions to mark a ballot in secret and without interference. It shall be prohibited to act with the ballot in such a way that the secret of voting might be revealed.
14. An elector must vote in secret. Article
15. Announcement of the Date of Elections to the Seimas
16. Regular elections to the Seimas shall be announced by the President of the Republic, and pre-term elections to the Seimas may be announced by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania or the President of the Republic.
17. Regular elections to the Seimas shall be announced by the President of Republic no later than six months prior to the expiration of the powers of the Seimas members. If, with four months remaining before the expiration of the powers of the Seimas members, the President of the Republic has not announced the date of regular elections to the Seimas, regular elections to the Seimas shall be held on the last Sunday from which at least a month remains before the expiration of the powers of the Seimas members. Regular elections to the Seimas shall be held no earlier than two months and no later than one month prior to the expiration of the powers of the Seimas members.
18. If regular elections must be held during military operations, the Seimas or the President of the Republic shall adopt a decision to prolong the powers of the Seimas . In this event elections must be called no later than within three months after the end of the war.
19. Pre-term elections to the Seimas may be held on the decision of the Seimas adopted by three-fifths majority vote of all the Seimas members, or announced by the President of the Republic in the cases provided in Paragraph 2 of Article 58 of the Constitution. The elections to the new Seimas must be organised within three months from the adoption of the decision on the pre-term elections. The day of elections to the new Seimas shall be specified in the decree of the President of the Republic concerning regular elections to the Seimas, and in the resolution of the Seimas or decree of the President of the Republic concerning pre-term elections to the Seimas.
20. The day when ballots are cast in a multi-candidate electoral area and in the first round of elections in one- candidate electoral areas shall be considered the day of the election to the new Seimas. Voting by post, as well as on ships and in diplomatic missions shall be carried out on or before the election day as it is provided for in this Law. The term which is calculated from the election day and may be implemented only when the election results are publicised shall be started to be calculated from the day of publicising the election results.
21. The date of repeat voting, new or repeat elections in a one-candidate electoral area shall be announced by the Central Electoral Committee in cases provided in this Law no later than within 15 days from the day when the necessity to hold such elections has occurred, unless otherwise provided in this Law. Article
22. Making the Preparation and Execution of Elections Public
23. Public notice of a meeting of the electoral committee shall be given on the notice board placed in the building in which the electoral committee office is situated, and the members of this electoral committee shall be personally informed thereof no later than 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. The Central Electoral Committee shall additionally inform the mass media through the Lithuanian Telegram Agency (ELTA) about its meetings where the following matters shall be decided: dates of new and repeat elections; establishment of the boundaries of electoral areas; formation and change of the composition of the committees of electoral areas; registration of candidates; issues determined by drawing lots; establishment of election results, final election results; termination of the powers of a Seimas member before the expiration of the term of office; recognition of the powers of a new Seimas member, as well as consideration of disputes concerning the election campaign and violations of the Law on Elections.
24. Meetings and voting of electoral committees shall be open, the following may observe them: representatives and observers of parties, political organisations, candidates for Seimas member, upon presenting certificates of the established form or confirmed with the seal of the organisations which have authorised them for that; representatives of the mass media, upon presenting employment certificates. A candidate for Seimas member may participate in the meeting of an electoral committee if: a decision concerning his personal activities or circumstances directly related with his person is being adopted; the chairman of the electoral committee has invited him to participate in the meeting.
25. Persons present in the meeting hall may from their seats record, write down in shorthand or take down everything that is said at the meeting, photograph or film, record visually. It shall be allowed to photograph and film, and record visually when it requires walking about the hall or using special lighting equipment, as well as to broadcast live meetings only upon permission by the electoral committee chairman.
26. Electoral committees cannot hold closed meetings. The Central Electoral Committee may prohibit anyone from entering the workroom of the service staff of electoral committees, document safe-keeping premises, if it is necessary to guarantee undisturbed working conditions of the staff, to protect electoral documents.
27. If there is a reason to believe that during a meeting a threat to the security of an electoral committee or its participants may arise, the chairman of the committee may instruct the police to scrutinise the documents, belongings of the persons who enter into the hall, or to inspect the persons.
28. The electoral committee may eject from the meeting hall the persons who hinder the committee in its normal work. Article
29. Expenditures Related to the Preparation and Execution of Elections The State and local authorities shall cover expenditures related to the preparation and execution of elections. The expenditures of electoral committees related to organisation and execution of elections and the work of the members of electoral committees and the service staff shall be paid with state funds. Maintenance of polling places and office space of electoral committees of electoral areas and districts, expenditures related to acquisition and keeping of the equipment of polling places shall be paid with local authority funds. II. Electoral Areas and Electoral Districts Article
30. Formation of Electoral Areas
31. For the organisation and execution of elections, the territory of the Republic of Lithuania shall be divided into 71 one-candidate electoral areas, taking into consideration the number of inhabitants and the administrative-territorial division. An electoral area shall be formed from electoral districts which have common boundaries. The number of voters in electoral areas must be from 0,9 to 1,1 of an average number of the voters in all one-candidate electoral areas. The Central Electoral Committee shall no later than 95 days prior to the election establish and no later than 90 days prior to the election publish in the Valstybës Þinios the list of electoral districts forming an electoral area, addresses and telephone numbers of their polling places, number of voters in the electoral area, and the address and telephone number of an electoral committee of the electoral area.
32. One multi-candidate electoral area shall also be formed where all citizens of the Republic of Lithuania having the right to vote shall cast their vote. 70 Seimas members shall be elected in the said electoral area according to the proportional system of elections. Article
33. Formation of Electoral Districts
34. Taking into consideration the convenience for a voter to reach a polling place and the number of voters, territories of cities and regions shall be divided into electoral districts.
35. The division of the territory of a town, region into electoral districts shall be approved and changed by the Central Electoral Committee on the recommendation of the mayor. The Central Electoral Committee shall publish in the Valstybës Þinios a list of approved electoral districts and changes made therein.
36. No more than 5,000 voters may reside in the territory of an electoral district.
37. The boundaries of an electoral district, address of a polling place shall be changed when necessary, but no later than 100 days prior to the election. In the recommendation to approve the division of the territory of a local authority into electoral districts, the town, region mayor shall specify the following: a proposed name of an electoral district, addresses forming an electoral district, number of voters in the formed district, address and telephone number of a polling place. Changes which are proposed to be made shall be specified in the recommendation to change the division of the territory of a local authority into electoral districts. No later than 100 prior to the election the mayor shall also inform the Central Electoral Committee about new addresses, changed addresses or addresses which are no longer in effect, as well as approve the addresses and telephone numbers of polling places. III. ORGANISATION of Elections Article
38. Electoral Committees
39. Elections to the Seimas shall be organised and conducted by: 1) the Central Electoral Committee; 2) the electoral committees of electoral areas; and 3) the electoral committees of electoral districts.
40. A citizen of the Republic of Lithuania may be proposed to the electoral committee provided he has the right to be elected as Seimas member (without taking into consideration the minimum age limit set for a candidate for Seimas member, but who is not younger than 18 years of age on the election day) and has not been removed from the electoral committee due to the violations of laws on elections or referendum.
41. The same person cannot concurrently be: a member of the electoral committee and a candidate for Seimas member; a candidate for Seimas member and a representative for elections; a representative for the election and a member of the electoral committee; a candidate for Seimas member and an observer of the elections; a member of the electoral committee and an observer of the elections. Provided that a member of the electoral committee is willing to be a candidate for Seimas member, he must no later than 10 days prior to giving consent to become a candidate or starting collecting signatures of citizens resign from the post of a member of the electoral committee. If the member of the electoral committee has not done so, he shall be relieved from the electoral committee for the violation of the Law on Elections and shall be not registered or shall be removed from a candidate for Seimas member. Article
42. Formation of the Central Electoral Committee
43. The Central Electoral Committee shall be the supreme standing institution for the organisation of elections to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, President of the Republic, municipal councils, as well as for the organisation of referenda.
44. The Seimas shall no later than 100 days and not earlier than 130 days prior to regular elections to the Seimas form the Central Electoral Committee for a four-year period. The Central Electoral Committee shall not be newly formed before pre-term elections to the Seimas, its powers are preserved until a Central Electoral Committee shall be formed before regular elections to the Seimas.
45. The Central Electoral Committee shall be composed of: 1) Committee Chairman; 2) three persons having higher legal education and who are chosen by lot from the six candidates proposed by the Minister of Justice; 3) three persons having higher legal education and who are chosen by lot from the six candidates proposed by the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society; and 4) the persons proposed by parties, political organisations which have received mandates of Seimas member in a multi- candidate electoral area.
46. The Minister of Justice and the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society may propose more candidates for the Central Electoral Committee.
47. The drawing of lots during a Seimas sitting shall be organised by the Speaker or deputy Speaker of the Seimas.
48. Parties and political organisations which have received mandates of Seimas member in a multi-candidate electoral area shall each have the right to propose one representative to the Central Electoral Committee from the one list of candidates (joint list) presented in the multi-candidate electoral area prior to the formation of the Committee.
49. If representatives meet the requirements specified in Article 11, par.2 and 3 of this Law, the Seimas may not reject proposed candidates.
50. In all cases, persons appointed to the Central Electoral Committee from the candidates proposed by the Minister of Justice and the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society must make up more than 1/2 of the Committee members. If these persons make up less than 1/2 of the members, the Committee shall be enlarged according to the procedure established in this Article by drawing lots equally from the candidates proposed by the Minister of Justice and the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society, whose number must be twice as much as is necessary for the additional appointment of members to the Central Electoral Committee.
51. The Seimas shall appoint the Chairperson of the Central Electoral Committee. The Chairperson of the Central Electoral Committee as well as the members of the Committee who were appointed to the Committee by lot must suspend their membership in any parties and political organisations which they are members of, and may not take part in the activities and carry out the instructions of said parties or organisations while working in the Committee.
52. The Central Electoral Committee shall elect the deputy chairman and secretary of the Committee during its sitting. The deputy chairman shall be elected from among the members who do not represent parties or political organisations. Article
53. Verification of the Composition of the Central Electoral Committee after the Elections to the Seimas
54. The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania shall within 100 days after the first sitting of the newly elected Seimas verify the composition of the Central Electoral Committee: shall dismiss and newly appoint the Committee members proposed by parties and political organisations, so that representatives of the parties, political organisations which have received mandates in a multi- candidate electoral area shall be included in the composition thereof. When necessary, the number of the Committee members chosen by lot may be only increased by the Seimas.
55. The powers of the Chairman of the Central Electoral Committee and the Committee members chosen by lot shall be terminated in the following cases: 1) upon his resignation; 2) upon his death; 3) if he does not meet the requirements specified in Article 11, par.2 of this Law; 4) if a sentence inflicted upon him by a court comes into force; and 5) if the Constitutional Court presents a conclusion that the Law on Elections to the Seimas or the Law on Presidential Elections has been violated due to the activities of the Central Electoral Committee. Article
56. The Powers of the Central Electoral Committee
57. The Central Electoral Committee shall guarantee the same application of laws on elections and referendum on the whole territory of the Republic of Lithuania. For this purpose, it shall issue the instructions for the implementation of these laws of the Republic of Lithuania, the execution whereof shall be obligatory to all institutions and officers. The decisions of the Central Electoral Committee may be changed only by the Central Electoral Committee or an effective court's ruling. Institutions of State power and government, Seimas members and other officers, parties, political or public organisations, as well as citizens shall be prohibited from interfering with the activities of the Central Electoral Committee related to organisation of elections or a referendum.
58. While carrying elections to the Seimas , the Central Electoral Committee shall: 1) divide the territory of Lithuania into one-candidate electoral areas; 2) establish electoral committees of electoral areas; 3) accept application documents concerning the nomination of candidates for the Seimas, examine them, register the candidates, and announce the lists of nominated candidates who participate in the elections and the numbers provided for them, as well as the candidates nominated in one-candidate electoral areas; 4) establish the samples and forms of ballot papers and other documents used during the elections, as of well as packages, stamps, and samples for their completion, and the procedure for sealing ballot papers; 5) manage funds allocated by the State for elections; 6) supervise the implementation of this Law; 7) consider complaints and adopt resolutions concerning decisions of electoral committees of electoral areas and, if necessary, electoral committees of electoral districts as well; 8) exercise the functions of a electoral committee of a multi-candidate electoral area; 9) establish and publicise the final results of the elections; 10) issue certificates of Seimas member of the Republic of Lithuania to the elected candidate; 11) hand over vote calculation and other records of electoral committees to the State Archives; and 12) execute other powers provided for in this Law.
59. During the period between elections, the Central Electoral Committee shall perform the functions of the Mandate Committee of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania: shall adopt and announce decisions upon termination of the Seimas member's powers; acknowledge the powers of new Seimas members elected in a multi-candidate electoral area, call new or repeat elections in a one-candidate electoral area.
60. The Central Electoral Committee shall generalise the election-related experience, together with other State institutions propagate the importance of free, democratic and honest elections, take care of the education of electors. It shall also keep in touch with the institutions of other states, which prepare and organise elections in those states.
61. The Central Electoral Committee may not interpret the provisions of this Law. If it is necessary to do so, the Central Electoral Committee shall appeal to the Seimas for the amendment of this Law. The Seimas shall consider questions submitted by the Central Electoral Committee according to the procedure of special urgency. Article
62. Formation of Electoral Committees of Electoral Areas
63. The Central Electoral Committee shall for the period of elections form electoral committees of electoral areas no later than 85 days prior to the elections.
64. Electoral committees of electoral areas shall be composed of: 1) two persons who reside or work in that town, region, have higher legal education, and who are nominated by the Minister of Justice; 2) two persons who reside or work in that town, region, have higher legal education, and who are nominated by the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society. 3) one official of "B" level who works in that town, region (one from every town, region), who is nominated by the mayor of that town, region; and 4) persons nominated by parties, political organisations which have received the mandates of Seimas member in the multi- candidate electoral area.
65. The Minister of Justice, the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society and the town, region mayor may propose more candidates. If the territory of an electoral area consists of the territories of several towns, regions, the Committee shall be formed from as many officials of "B" level as there are mayors who have the right to nominate candidates.
66. Parties, political organisations which have received the mandates of Seimas member in the multi-candidate electoral area pursuant to the list of candidates (joint list) nominated in this electoral area shall each have the right to propose two representatives from this single list of candidates (joint list) nominated in the electoral area to electoral committees of electoral areas. If the representatives meet the requirements of this Law, the Central Electoral Committee may not reject said candidates. In the event that candidates have not been proposed, the Central Electoral Committee may additionally appoint as members of the Committee candidatures who are proposed by the Minister of Justice, the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society or town, region mayor.
67. In all cases, persons who have been appointed to electoral committees of electoral areas from the candidates proposed by the Minister of Justice, the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society and the town, region mayor must make up at least 1/3 of all the Committee members. If these people make up less than 1/3 of the Committee, the Committee shall be enlarged from the candidates proposed by the Minister of Justice, the Lithuanian Lawyers' Society or the town, region mayor.
68. If elections to the Seimas or to the municipal council, or a referendum are concurrently held on the same day, the same electoral committees of electoral districts or referendum committees shall be formed. The Central Electoral Committee shall form a single - town, region, electoral area or referendum - committee in a separate electoral, referendum territory and shall establish its functions in organising and carrying other elections or a referendum.
69. The Central Electoral Committee shall appoint the chairman of the electoral committee of an electoral area.
70. During its first sitting, the electoral committee of an electoral area shall elect a deputy chairman and a secretary of the committee. Article
71. The Powers of Electoral Committees of Electoral Areas The electoral committee of an electoral area shall: 1) inform the voters who reside in the electoral area about the boundaries of the electoral districts, their offices, working hours and polling places; 2) supervise the implementation of this Law in the electoral area; 3) form electoral committees of electoral districts; 4) make up a list of health care, social guardianship and care institutions, military units and places of confinement situated in the territory of an electoral area, and together with the head of the post office have care of the organisation of voting by post in those places; 5) draw up the vote calculation records of the electoral area; 6) consider complaints against decisions and actions of the electoral committees of electoral districts and adopt decisions concerning them; and 7) exercise other powers provided for in this Law. Article
72. Formation of Electoral Committees of Electoral Districts
73. No later than 75 days prior to the election, the electoral committee of an electoral area shall establish the number of the members of the electoral committees of each electoral district, which must be a multiple of the number of the parties and political organisations which have the right to nominate candidates for electoral committees. If the number of proposed candidates is insufficient or there is a vacancy in the committee, the mayor of a municipality in the territory whereof the electoral district is formed may propose the lacking candidates.
74. The parties and political organisations which have received the mandates of Seimas member in a multi-candidate electoral area from the list of nominated candidates (joint list), as well as the parties, political organisations which have received the mandates of members of municipal councils from the list of nominated candidates (joint list) in the elections to a municipal council shall enjoy the right to propose candidates for the electoral committee of an electoral district, but each party or political organisation shall be entitled to propose the same number of candidates as the other parties and political organisations having right to propose candidates.
75. Parties, political organisations shall submit their lists of candidates for the electoral committee of an electoral area no later than 62 days prior to the elections.
76. Electoral committees of electoral areas shall for the period of elections form electoral committees of electoral districts no later than 60 days prior to the elections. If a candidate meets the requirements set forth in this Law, the electoral committees of an electoral area may not reject the candidate.
77. If no candidates have been proposed or the proposed candidates do not meet the requirements of this Law, or they have been proposed after the set period of time, electoral committees of electoral areas may alter the earlier established number of the members of the electoral committee of an electoral district or to address the mayor to present the lacking number of candidates for electoral committees of electoral districts. The candidates proposed by the mayor may not be the members of parties, political organisations or to become such members prior to the expiration of the powers of a member of an electoral committee. If during a sitting not less than three members of the electoral committee of the electoral area shall, while appointing a member of the committee, object to the appointment of the candidate, proposed by the mayor, to be a member of the electoral committee of an electoral district, this candidate may not be appointed a member of the committee.
78. Electoral committees of electoral areas shall appointed the chairmen of electoral committees of electoral districts.
79. During its first sitting the electoral committee of an electoral district shall elect a deputy chairman and a secretary of the committee. Article
80. The Powers of the Electoral Committee of Electoral District The electoral committee of electoral district: 1) shall receive voter lists from the electoral committee of an electoral area, provide conditions for electors, representatives of parties and political organisations at the elections to familiarise themselves with said lists, hand voter certificates to voters or distribute them in some other way, inform the electoral committee about inaccuracies noticed in the voter list; 2) shall consider complaints concerning errors made in voter lists; 3) may observe how voting by post is conducted in the territory of an electoral district, and control that conditions for voting by post would be provided in all health care, social guardianship and care institutions, military units and the places of confinement situated in the territory of the electoral district; 4) shall have care of preparing polling places, voting booths and ballot boxes in due time pursuant to the requirements provided in this Law; 5) shall organise voting in the electoral district on the day of elections; 6) shall calculate votes and draw up the vote calculation records of the electoral district; 7) shall consider the complaints of the voters and observers of that electoral district on issues concerning the preparation of the elections, the organisation of voting, vote calculation, the drawing up of vote calculation records, and adopt decisions related to them; and 8) shall exercise other powers provided for in this Law. Article
81. The Oath and a Written Pledge of Electoral Committee Members
82. A member, chairman of an electoral committee shall start holding the position in the electoral committee upon having taken the oath or given a written pledge.
83. The members and the chairman of the Central Electoral Committee shall take the oath in the Seimas. The oath shall be administered by the Speaker or deputy Speaker of the Seimas. The text of the oath of the member, chairman of the electoral committee shall read as follows: "I, (name, surname), member, chairman of the electoral committee, swear to be faithful to the Republic of Lithuania, observe its Constitution and laws, conscientiously and honestly perform my duties in the electoral committee and refrain from actions violating laws and the rights of citizens. So help me God."
84. The members and chairmen of electoral committees of electoral areas and districts shall give a written pledge. The procedure for giving a written pledge shall be established by the Central Electoral Committee. The text of a written pledge of the member and the chairman of an electoral committee shall read as follows: "I, (name, surname), member, chairman of the electoral committee, swear to be faithful to the Republic of Lithuania, observe its Constitution and laws, conscientiously and honestly perform my duties in the electoral committee and refrain from actions violating laws and the rights of citizens. So help me God."
85. The oath may be taken or a written pledge given omitting the last sentence. The person who has taken the oath shall subscribe to the prescribed oath. The oath shall be effective for the whole duration of the appointment to work in the electoral committee. The person who does not take the oath, shall not hold the position in the electoral committee.
86. The oaths, written pledges of the members, chairmen of the electoral committees shall remain in the custody of the institutions which have administered them.
87. When appointing an electoral committee member, the institution shall fix the date by which he must take the oath or give a written pledge. The person who has not taken the oath, given a written pledge within 10 days after his appointment or who has taken the oath or given a written pledge with a reservation, shall be removed from his position in the electoral committee. Article
88. Organisation of the Work of Electoral Committees
89. Sittings of electoral committees shall be valid provided that at least three-fifths of the members of the committee are in attendance. Decisions made by the committees shall be adopted by open vote of the majority of the committee members participating in the sitting. In the event of a tie vote, the committee chairman's vote shall be deciding. Committee members who do not agree with a decision shall have the right to state a different opinion in writing, which shall then be appended to the minutes of the sitting and shall be an inseparable part thereof.
90. Upon the end of elections, the powers of the chairmen, members of electoral committees of electoral districts, electoral areas shall be terminated. The decision to terminate the powers shall be adopted by the electoral committee which appointed the committee members, when this committee, its chairman have fulfilled all the tasks assigned to him according to the Law.
91. The chairman or member of an electoral committee who have taken the oath or given a written pledge shall be prohibited from any form of election campaigning or attempts to influence the voters' will in any other way. Individuals who have violated this requirement must be dismissed from the committee and may be liable according to the procedure established by law. Article
92. Appeals Concerning Decisions of Electoral Committees which Are Adopted prior to the Completion of Voting
93. Parties and political organisations which have nominated a candidate for Seimas member, a candidate for Seimas member, a representative for elections, an election observer may appeal against the decision of the electoral committee which has been adopted prior to the completion of voting: 1) for a decision of the electoral committee of the electoral districts - to the electoral committee of an electoral area; 2) for a decision of the electoral committees of an electoral area - to the Central Electoral Committee; and 3) for a decision of the Central Electoral Committee - to the Vilnius district court.
94. Appeals must be considered within 48 hours of when the appeal is submitted. Non-working days shall be included in this period. The decision of the Vilnius district court shall become effective from its pronouncement. Article
95. Assistance for Electoral Committees
96. State institutions, enterprises, offices and organisations, as well as their officers must assist electoral committees in exercising their powers and must furnish them with necessary information.
97. State institutions, enterprises, offices and organisations, as well as their officers must consider requests submitted by electoral committees and give the electoral committee a justified response within 3 days.
98. An electoral committee may employ the required number of personnel for assistance work.
99. Local authorities of towns and regions, state institutions and organisations must provide electoral committees with proper premises and equipment for the preparation and execution of elections. Article
100. Remuneration of Electoral Committee Members For their work in electoral committees, the chairmen and members of electoral committees shall be paid wages at the rates submitted by the Central Electoral Committee and approved by the Government. Article
101. Changing the Members of Electoral Committees
102. The chairman or member of an electoral committee may be removed from his position in the committee by the electoral committee which approved the composition of said committee, or the Central Electoral Committee upon having considered the complaint concerning the decision of the electoral committee of the electoral area.
103. The electoral committee may consider only the justified proposal of a party or political organisation to recall the member of the electoral committee whom it has nominated.
104. As necessary, new chairman or member of the electoral committee shall be appointed according to the procedure established by this Law. IV. Voter Lists and VOTER CERTIFICATES Article
105. Voter Lists
106. For the organisation of elections, the following voter lists shall be compiled: 1) voter list of the Republic of Lithuania; 2) voter lists of one-candidate electoral areas; and 3) voter lists of electoral districts.
107. Voter lists shall be drawn up twice - provisional and final. These lists may be used only for organisation and execution of elections.
108. The procedure for compiling voter lists must be such that every citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is entitled to vote shall be registered in voter lists. No one may be registered in a voter list more than once.
109. For the organisation of election campaign, at the request of parties and political organisations which have nominated a candidate or candidates, generalised voter lists (without surnames of voters, dates of birth, exact address of residence) may be drawn up. The actual expenditures related to drawing up of said lists shall be paid by the party, political organisation or a candidate who has ordered them.
110. The voter list of the Republic of Lithuania and the voter lists of one-candidate electoral areas which are drawn up and kept by the registrar of the population register, shall be compiled in magnetic media. The procedure and form of compiling of lists, method of compiling and the procedure for the use thereof shall be established by the Central Electoral Committee. Article
111. General Procedure for Registering Citizens in Voter Lists
112. All citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have the right to vote shall be registered in the voter list of the Republic of Lithuania according to the data of issuance of the document (passport) confirming the citizenship, and according to the population register of the Republic of Lithuania. Lists compiled according to these data shall be provisional.
113. Compiling, checking and execution of voter lists shall be organised by the Central Electoral Committee on the basis of the information furnished by state institutions and electoral committees of electoral areas.
114. The following persons shall be struck from the voter list of the Republic of Lithuania: a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who has died; a person who has lost the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania; and a citizen who has been declared legally incompetent by the court.
115. Provisional voter lists with changes done therein and acknowledged in the procedure established by the Central Electoral Committee shall be not more than 7 days prior to the election approved as final voter lists. Changes in final voter lists may be done only with the consent of the Central Electoral Committee. Article
116. Voter Lists of One-Candidate Electoral Areas The voter list of one-candidate electoral area shall be made in magnetic media by the Central Electoral Committee according to the voter list of the Republic of Lithuania and the place of residence of a voter indicated therein, and shall be delivered to the electoral committee of an electoral area at least 65 days prior to the election. Lists of voters residing abroad shall be drawn up concurrently and shall be delivered to diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania. A list of citizens whose place of residence is unknown shall be also drawn up. Article
117. Voter Lists of Electoral Districts The voter list of an electoral district shall be drawn up by the electoral committee of an electoral area according to the voter list of an electoral area and the place of residence indicated therein, and shall be delivered to the electoral committee of an electoral district at least 55 days prior to the election. A list of citizens whose place of residence is unknown shall be also compiled. Voters, ship's crew members and passengers who will be unable to return to Lithuania during the period of voting by post or to be present on the election day, shall, according to the procedure established by the Central Electoral Committee, be registered in a voter list of the electoral district on the territory whereof a ship's registration harbour or the administration of a ship's owner is located. Article
118. Public Announcement of Voter Lists and Access to Voter Lists The electoral committee of an electoral district, diplomatic mission shall, at least 55 days prior to the election, provide conditions for the voters to have access to voter lists. The time and place for the voters to implement this right shall be indicated at the entrance to the premises of an electoral committee, situated in the diplomatic mission. Article
119. A Voter Certificate
120. A voter certificate shall be a document issued by an electoral committee specifying in the voter list of which electoral district a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania is registered. One cannot vote by post without this certificate.
121. A voter's certificate shall contain: 1) the name and surname of the voter; 2) the birth date of the voter (year, month, day); 3) the address of the voter; 4) the name and number of a one-member electoral area in which the voter shall vote; 5) the name, number of the electoral district in whose list of voters the name of the voter has been included, as well as the address of the polling place; and 6) the consecutive number of a voter in the voter list of an electoral district. Article
122. Delivery of Voter Certificates
123. The delivery of voter certificates to voters shall be organised by the electoral committee of an electoral district. The diplomatic mission shall deliver or send by post voter certificates to the voters who are abroad, provided that he has informed the diplomatic mission of his address. A voter certificate shall not be delivered to the voter who shall vote in a ship.
124. The delivery of voter certificates shall be noted in the provisional voter list of an electoral district. A voter certificate shall be either delivered to the voter personally or to the other person who lives together with the voter, or to a neighbour of the voter, who knows the voter and undertakes to deliver the voter certificate to the voter. The delivery of voter certificates to voters must be finished at least 40 days before the election.
125. The voter who has not received a voter certificate in due time or who has received a voter certificate with inaccuracies, must without delay inform the electoral committee of an electoral district in whose service territory he is residing, about this and to produce his passport or other document confirming his identity to the electoral committee. If the voter is registered in the voter list of this electoral district, the electoral committee of the electoral district must write out a new voter certificate to the voter and issue it to him immediately. If the voter is not registered in the voter list of this electoral district, the electoral committee of the electoral district shall immediately inform the electoral committee of an electoral area about this, which must have care of registering the voter in the voter list of this electoral district. The voter certificate shall be written out and delivered to the voter following upon checking the accuracy of voter lists.
126. In the manner prescribed by the Central Electoral Committee, the electoral committee of the electoral area may write out a voter certificate to the voter who is registered in the voter list of another electoral area, provided the voter cannot return to the permanent place of residence to get a voter certificate or obtain it in any other way. The voter must request this in writing and present the passport of the citizen of the Republic of Lithuania with the address of the place of residence recorded therein. Article
127. Checking the Accuracy of Voter Lists before Drawing up Final Lists
128. The accuracy of provisional voter lists shall be checked when transferring a voter from one voter list of an electoral district, electoral area into another, striking from or registering a voter in the voter list of the Republic of Lithuania.
129. The voter shall be transferred from one voter list into another if it becomes clear that the address of his place of residence in the provisional list is incorrect or it has changed after said list was drawn up.
130. Transferring of the voter from the voter list of one electoral district into another in the same electoral area shall be executed by the electoral committee of the electoral area and it shall inform the Central Electoral Committee about the changes made in voter lists of electoral districts. Transferring of the voter from the voter list of one electoral area into another shall be executed by the Central Electoral Committee on the recommendation of the electoral committee of the electoral area and shall inform the electoral committees of electoral area about the done changes. Only the Central Electoral Committee may register a voter in or strike him from the voter list of the Republic of Lithuania in the cases provided for in Article 26 of this Law. Article
131. Registration of the Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, Staying Abroad, in Voter Lists
132. The citizens of the Republic of Lithuania staying in other states shall be registered in the voter list of the one- candidate electoral area on whose territory the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania is situated.
133. A diplomatic mission of the Republic of Lithuania shall, at least 15 days before the election to the Seimas, submit to the Central Electoral Committee the voter list compiled in the diplomatic mission, as well as the data concerning checking the accuracy of said list. This list may be supplemented with the voters who will be unable to return to Lithuania during the period of voting by post or to be present on the day of the election, and who shall vote in diplomatic missions. Article
134. Registration of National Defence Servicemen, Voters who are Aboard a Ship and in Places of Confinement in Voter Lists
135. Voters performing the active or alternative service shall be included in the voter lists of the electoral district on whose territory they permanently resided before they have been summoned for the active or alternative service.
136. Officers, non-commissioned officers and re-enlistees of the national defence system and the internal affairs service shall be included in the voter lists of the electoral district on whose territory they permanently reside.
137. The voters who are aboard a ship and who will be unable to return to Lithuania during the period of voting by post or to be present on the election day, shall be registered in the additional voter list of the electoral district in whose voter list the ship's crew is registered.
138. Voters who are in places of confinement shall be registered in the voter list of the electoral district on whose territory they have permanently resided before they were placed in confinement. If a person who is in a place of confinement requests in writing, he shall be registered in the voter list of the electoral district on whose territory the place of confinement is situated. Article
139. Checking the Accuracy of Voter Lists upon Compiling Final Voter Lists, as well as on the Election Day If following the approval of the final voter lists, but no later than until two o'clock p.m. on the election day, a voter addresses the electoral committee of an electoral district and submits the passport of the citizen of the Republic of Lithuania with the address of the place of residence recorded therein, which is attached to the territory of this electoral district, but the voter is not registered in the voter list of this electoral district, the electoral committee of the electoral district shall register the voter in the additional voter list of the electoral district and shall allow him to vote according to the procedure established by the Central Electoral Committee and shall immediately inform the electoral committee of the electoral area about the voter's surname, name, personal code, his passport number and the address recorded in the passport. The electoral committee of the electoral area shall check if the voter is registered in the voter list of the electoral area and take actions to guarantee that the voter would not be able to vote twice or the ballot papers filled by him will be counted only once. If the voter has voted twice, only that vote shall be counted which was put in the ballot box of the electoral district. The other vote of the voter, received by post or when cast according to the additional voter list of the electoral district shall not be counted. Article
140. Complaints Concerning Voter Lists
141. A voter or a representative of the party, political organisation may lodge complaints about the errors made in voter lists due to which the voter is not registered in the voter list in the manner prescribed by this Law or is registered in several voter lists with the electoral committee of the electoral district no later than 7 days before the election. The electoral committee of the electoral district must consider the complaint and adopt a decision thereon either immediately or within 2 days of the receipt thereof, if more than 10 days are left until the election day.
142. The decision of the electoral committee of an electoral district may be within 3 days appealed against in the local court, which shall consider the complaint within 2 days. The decision of the court shall be final.
143. Complaints and comments shall not be considered after the expiration of the term established for filing comments or complaints.
144. Electoral committees of electoral districts shall report to the electoral committee of the electoral area about the received complaints and changes made in the voter lists by the court's decision, and the electoral committee of the electoral area shall report to the Central Electoral Committee as soon as possible but no later than within 12 hours. V. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR SEIMAS MEMBER Article
145. Nomination of Candidates for Seimas Member
146. The following may nominate candidates for Seimas member: 1) in one-candidate and multi-candidate electoral areas - the party or political organisation which have been registered pursuant to the Law on Political Parties and Political Organisations no later than 35 days prior to the election; 2) in a one-candidate electoral area - every citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who qualifies to be elected as a Seimas member, may nominate himself for Seimas member, provided his candidature is supported by signatures of no less than 1,000 voters of that electoral area.
147. In multi-candidate electoral areas parties and political organisations shall nominate their candidates by presenting a list of candidates in which candidates are recorded in such succession as established by the party or political organisations. Unless the statutes of a party or political organisation provide otherwise, candidates in one-candidate electoral areas and the list of the candidates, recorded in succession, in a multi-candidate electoral area must be approved at the congress or conference of the party, political organisation. The list of candidates must not include less than 20 and more than 120 candidates. Article
148. Application Documents for the Nomination of Candidates
149. For the nomination of candidates parties and political organisations must file with the Central Electoral Committee the following application documents: 1) an application for the participation in the election; 2) copies of their statutes, amendments thereto, and registration papers. The programme, election programme of the party, political organisation may be submitted as well; 3) the list of candidates nominated in a multi-candidate electoral area; 4) the list of candidates nominated in one-candidate electoral areas; 5) an obligation signed by each nominated candidate, provided he is elected, to terminate his employment or any other activities incompatible with the status of Seimas member, a consent to be nominated by this party, political organisation in a concrete electoral area, a questionnaire for a candidate for Seimas member filled in by the candidate himself, as well as the extract containing the basic data from the income and property declaration, presented to the State Tax Inspectorate, approved by that tax inspectorate to which the declaration has been submitted. It shall also have the right to submit photographs and autobiography of each candidate; 6) a power of attorney for a representative for elections to represent it in the Central Electoral Committee, it shall also have the right to submit powers of attorney to represent it and the candidates nominated by it in electoral committees of electoral areas; 7) documents certifying that the election deposit has been paid; 8) if the party, political organisation nominated candidates or candidates' lists during the preceding elections to the Seimas or municipal councils, it shall have the right to submit a copy of the report published in the press, which had to be published in pursuance of the laws on the elections to the Seimas and Municipal Councils, concerning the sources and use of funds for the election campaign; 9) a copy of the declaration concerning the last year's financial activities, presented to the financial institution, which had to be submitted pursuant to the Law on Political Parties and Political Organisations, and which is approved by the tax inspectorate to which this declaration was submitted, and it may submit a copy of the account (report), which had to be publicly announced according to the Law on Political Parties and Organisations, concerning the budget receipts and their sources, expenditures and their purpose; and 10) a copy of the declaration, submitted to the financial institution, concerning the financial activities from the beginning of the current year to the day when 80 days are left before the election, which is approved by the tax inspectorate to which the said declaration was presented, and may submit a copy of the account (report), which has been publicly announced, concerning its budget receipts and their sources, expenditures and their purpose from the beginning of the current year to the day when 80 days remain before the election.
150. The person who has decided to nominate himself as the candidates for Seimas member, must submit to the electoral committee of the electoral area the following documents: 1) an application concerning his nominating himself as the candidate for Seimas member in this electoral area; 2) a signed obligation, provided he is elected, to terminate his employment or any other activities incompatible with the status of Seimas member, questionnaire for a candidate for Seimas member filled in by the candidate himself, as well as the extract containing the principal data, approved by the tax inspectorate to which the declaration has been submitted, from the property and income declaration, which has been submitted to the State Tax Inspectorate. He shall also have the right to submit photographs, autobiography; 3) a document certifying that election deposit has been paid; and 4) a power of attorney by a candidate for representing him in the Central Electoral Committee and the electoral committee of that electoral area.
151. The electoral committee of an electoral area shall within three days issue to the citizen who has decided to nominate himself as candidate for Seimas member individual forms with the name and surname of the candidate for the collection of voter signatures to collect signatures of voters of that electoral area who support his self-nomination. In the form for the collection of signatures a citizen who supports the person's self-nomination for Seimas member must fill in the following data himself: surname, name, number of the passport, date of birth, address of the permanent place of residence, and sign it. The candidate must return the forms for the collection of signatures to the electoral committee of an electoral area not later than 40 days before the election. Upon receiving the forms for the collection of signatures, the electoral committee of the electoral area shall verify them within 7 days. The following signatures shall not be counted: the signature of the voter who is not registered in the voter list of that electoral area; if all of the data established in this Law fail to be included; if incorrect data are included; all signatures of the citizen who has signed for the self-nomination of the person several times. If the number of signatures established in this Law has been collected in the forms for the collection of signatures, the electoral committee of the electoral area shall recommend to the Central Electoral Committee to register the person as a candidate for Seimas member. If it is established that citizens' signatures have been forged, that a principle of voluntariness has been violated while collecting signatures, the electoral committee of the electoral area may recommend to the Central Electoral Committee not to register a candidate for Seimas member.
152. In the Seimas member's questionnaire a citizen who has nominated himself or has been nominated as a candidate for Seimas member must fill in the following data himself: surname, name, number of the passport, personal code, date of birth, address of the permanent place of residence, whether he has served out a court-imposed punishment, whether he is not a person who is in the active or alternative service, who is an officer, non- commissioned officer or re-enlistee of the national defence system, police and the internal affairs service, who has not retired from service, as well as an officer of other militarised or security service, who is on the payroll, and whether he has the citizenship of another state, - and to sign the questionnaire. The persons who have taken an oath of the citizen of other states must repudiate it in writing and to record in the questionnaire how and when they have done it. Other questions, additionally established by the Central Electoral Committee may also be included in the Seimas member's questionnaire, and the person may not answer them.
153. The filing of application documents shall commence 65 days before and shall end 35 days before the day of the election. Article
154. Registration of Candidates for Seimas Member
155. Upon the commencement of filing of the lists of candidates, at the request of the Central Electoral Committee the Ministry of Justice shall within one day confirm officially which parties, political organisations have been registered, the activities of which parties, political organisations have been suspended or terminated.
156. Upon receiving the application documents of a party, political organisation, the Central Electoral Committee must not later than the next working day apply to the Ministry of Justice regarding confirmation of the fact of the registration of the party, political organisation and the validity of the submitted statutes. The Ministry of Justice must give a written reply within two days.
157. While checking the application documents filled in by a candidate for Seimas member, the Central Electoral Committee shall determine whether the candidate meets the requirements of Article 2 of this Law. When necessary, it may appeal to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Justice or other state institutions to furnish the data important for registering the candidate. Such appeal of the Central Electoral Committee must be considered in the extra urgency procedure, and a written reply must be given within 7 days, but not later than 32 days before the election.
158. After the Central Electoral Committee has checked out the submitted application documents and established that they meet the requirements of this Law, it must adopt a decision concerning the registration of a candidate within 10 days following submitting of the application documents, but not less than 31 days prior to the election.
159. If the application documents are incorrect, the Central Electoral Committee must immediately inform the appropriate representative for elections about them. Article
160. A Representative for Elections
161. The party, political organisation, citizen, who has nominated himself and has been registered as a candidate for Seimas member shall authorise a representative for elections to represent them on all issues in the Central Electoral Committee or the electoral committee of an electoral area. In sittings of an electoral committee he shall have the right of deliberative vote and the right to express a separate opinion on all issues under consideration. The representative for elections shall, on the territory of the electoral area in the electoral committee whereof he is authorised to represent, have all the rights of an election observer. Powers of attorney by parties, political organisations to represent them in electoral committees may be filed with the Central Electoral Committee not earlier than the next day following the formation of an appropriate electoral committee, but not later than on the final day for submitting application documents. If the candidature of the representative for elections meets the requirements of this Law, the Central Electoral Committee shall within 3 days register the power of attorney given to him and shall issue a representative's for elections certificate. The power of attorney for a representative for elections shall expire after the lapse of 20 days following the proclamation of the final results of election. The powers of the representative for elections in an appropriate electoral committee shall be also terminated after the lapse of 20 days following presentation of the application documents, provided that the party, political organisation does not have a candidate (candidates) on the territory of that electoral area.
162. Until the election day, a party, political organisation, citizen who has nominated himself as a candidate may revoke a power of attorney at any time and authorise another person to be a representative for elections. In this case a representative for elections must be registered, a certificate must be issued to him, and the registration of the previous representative for elections must be terminated within 3 days. Article
163. Election Deposit
164. The electoral deposit for one candidate for Seimas member to be registered in a one-candidate electoral area shall be equal to one average monthly wage (AMW). To register one new candidate in a one-candidate electoral area instead of the candidate whose application documents have been revoked or he has revoked the documents himself - one AMW.
165. The electoral deposit in order to register one list of candidates for Seimas member in a multi-candidate electoral area shall be equal to twenty AMWs. To change the place of one candidate on the list, to enter a new candidate on the list - one AMW. To join the candidates' lists together - 0,3 AMW for each joint list.
166. Election deposits for registration of the list of candidates shall be doubled for that party, political organisation which at the preceding elections to the Seimas or municipal councils nominated candidates or the list (lists) of candidates and did not furnish a copy of the report published in the press concerning the sources and use of the funds for election campaign.
167. Within 40 days following the final proclamation of election results, the Central Electoral Committee shall refund the election deposit to the party, political organisation or the citizen who has furnished it, if: 1) candidate nominated as Seimas member or the person who nominated himself as a candidate for Seimas member is elected as a Seimas member in a one-candidate electoral area; and 2) the list (joint list) of nominated candidates becomes eligible for distribution of mandates in a multi-candidate electoral area and the report on the sources and use of the funds for election campaign, which has to be published pursuant to this Law, has been published in the press.
168. The non-refundable deposits shall be transferred to the State budget. Article
169. Prohibition for One Person to be a Candidate in Several Electoral Areas or several Lists of Candidates
170. Each candidate for Seimas member may be entered in the list of candidates nominated by only one party, political organisation in a multi-candidate electoral area.
171. The person who is entered in such a list of candidates shall have the right to be at the same time nominated as a candidate for Seimas member in one one-candidate electoral area as well.
172. If a person is on the list of candidates nominated by more than one party, political organisation in the multi- candidate electoral area, or if he is nominated in more than one one-candidate electoral area, the Central Electoral Committee shall request him to choose in whose list of candidates and in which one-candidate electoral area he would like to stand for election. If the candidate does not notify in writing about his choice with only 35 days remaining to the election, he shall be struck off all the lists of candidates in a multi-candidate electoral area and in all one-candidate electoral areas. Article
173. Joining of the Lists of Candidates When less than 35 days remain until the election, several parties, political organisations may join the lists of candidates nominated by them. In order to do so, they must submit a statement to the Central Electoral Committee concerning the joining of lists of candidates, in which the name of a coalition shall be stated. The joint list in which the candidates are entered in a newly established succession, as well as the document confirming that the election deposit for the joining of the lists of candidates has been furnished shall be submitted as well. Only those persons can be put down on the joint list who are on the lists which are being joined together. The name of a coalition must include the word "coalition" and it cannot contain any references to the names of the parties, political organisations which do not form this coalition. The joint list shall be regarded as one list. The same party, political organisation may not participate in more than one coalition. Article
174. The Right to Withdraw or Supplement Electoral Application Documents
175. A party, political organisation or election coalition, as well as a person who has been nominated or who has nominated himself as a candidate for Seimas member in one-candidate electoral area or is registered in the list of a political organisation, may at any time, but no later than 35 days before the election, declare their application documents fully or partially withdrawn. A party, political organisation or election coalition shall notify the Central Electoral Committee about this by a statement, the citizen - by a statement, confirmed in the notarial procedure, and the relevant representatives for elections in the Central Electoral Committee shall be informed about this. If application documents are withdrawn, the election deposit may be refunded only after the election, provided it becomes refundable as provided in Article 41 of this Law. It shall be allowed to additionally submit new application documents when altering the sequence of candidates on a list of candidates or when nominating new candidates in one-candidate electoral areas.
176. If the application documents are being withdrawn by a party, political organisation that has formed a coalition, the candidates nominated by it shall be struck off the joint list of candidates, and, if the name of the coalition contains a reference to its name, the name of the coalition shall be changed. In such case it is necessary to notify in writing the representatives for elections of the coalition partners in the Central Electoral Committee. If upon withdrawal of the electoral application documents, the candidates of only one party, political organisation remain on the coalition joint list of candidates, they will participate in the election only as the nominees of that party, political organisation.
177. If upon withdrawal of application documents or annulment of the candidates' registration, there are less than 20 candidates left on the list of candidates, the registration of all the candidates of this list shall be annulled. Article
178. Publication of the Names and Lists of Candidates, Beginning of the Election Campaign
179. With not less than 30 days prior to the election, the Central Electoral Committee shall publish in the Valstybës Þinios the lists of candidates of parties, political organisations and coalitions which participate in the election, numbers furnished to them by drawing lots, as well as the candidates nominated in one-candidate electoral areas. The certificates of candidates for Seimas member shall be delivered to the representative for elections.
180. The election campaign shall commence from the day of such publication. VI. GUARANTIES OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CANDIDATES FOR SEIMAS MEMBER Article
181. The Right of a Candidate for Seimas Member to Speak at Meetings, to Use the Mass Media
182. After the commencement of the election campaign, candidates for Seimas member shall have the equal right to speak at voters' meetings or any other meetings, gatherings, conferences as well as through the mass media, and to publicly announce their respective election programs.
183. Heads of state power and government institutions must help candidates for Seimas member to organise meetings with voters, to obtain necessary information, with the exception of the information which is considered confidential according to laws of the Republic of Lithuania and the decrees of the Government. Article
184. Liability for the Violation of the Law on the Elections to the Seimas Persons who prevent by force, threat, deception, bribery or otherwise voters from implementing the right to vote or to be elected to the Seimas, and to organise campaigning, as well as the members of electoral committees, other officers who have falsified election documents, calculated fraudulently the votes, violated the secrecy of the voting or otherwise violated this Law, shall be liable under laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Legal action shall also be instituted against persons who have publicised or otherwise disseminated false data about a candidate for Seimas member or prevented a candidate from meeting with voters. Article
185. The Right of a Candidate for Seimas Member to be Relieved from Work or his Service Duties during the Period of Election Campaign Upon his request, a candidate for Seimas member may be relieved from work or other service duties for the period of organising and holding the election to the Seimas, but no longer than for 1 month. Article
186. The Immunity of a Candidate for Seimas Member Without the consent of the Central Electoral Committee, during the election campaign as well as until the first sitting of a newly elected Seimas (after the repeat or new election - until the proclamation of the final election results), a candidate for Seimas member cannot be found criminally liable, arrested, neither can administrative penalties be judicially imposed on him for the actions done during the election campaign. VII. ELECTION CAMPAIGN Article
187. The Fundamentals of an Election Campaign
188. The conditions prescribed by this Law to start campaigning shall be provided for parties, political organisations and candidates who have nominated themselves from the day the election campaign starts.
189. Campaigning may be conducted in any form or manner, provided it does not contradict the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
190. Conditions and Procedure for the Use of the Mass Media
191. Parties, political organisations that have submitted lists of candidates for elections, candidates in one-candidate electoral areas, as well as candidates who have nominated themselves shall be granted the right to use the state and local authority mass media free of charge. The actual duration and time of state (national) radio and television programmes allotted for the campaigning shall be established by the Central Electoral Committee upon co-ordination with the heads of radio and television, and shall be distributed in such a manner that the following principles of equality are preserved: between the lists of candidates in multi-candidate electoral areas; between one- candidate electoral areas; between candidates in a one-candidate electoral area. Each list of candidates shall be provided with no less than 1.5 hour of the state (national) radio and television time, and each candidate who has been nominated or has nominated himself in a one-candidate electoral area - no less that 5 minutes of the state television time and 7 minutes of the state radio time.
192. The actual time and duration of local authority radio and television programmes allotted for the election campaign shall be established by an electoral committee (committees) of an electoral area, upon the co-ordination with heads of the radio and television, and shall be distributed in such a manner that the principles of equality are preserved.
193. The election programme of a list of candidates shall be published by the Central Electoral Committee within 20 days after it was submitted.
194. The election programme of the candidate who stands for election in a one-candidate electoral area shall be published by the electoral committee of that electoral area no later than 15 days prior to the election. The procedure for publishing election programmes shall be established by the Central Electoral Committee .
195. Campaigning in the commercial mass media shall be restricted only by the size of special election accounts.
196. All disputes concerning the election campaign shall be settled by the Central Electoral Committee, in compliance with the fundamentals provided for in the Law. Article
197. Publicising the Material Discrediting a Candidate for Seimas Member and a Countering Opinion of the Candidate
198. If during the election campaign the mass media publicise the material discrediting a candidate for Seimas member (such data may be publicised not later than: in a means of the mass media which is issued more than three times a week, 5 days before the election, in other means of the mass media - 10 days before the election, but in all cases the material discrediting a candidate may be publicised not later than in the last but one issue of a means of the mass media before the election), it must provide the candidate with a possibility to express a countering opinion which consists of a short exposition of the publicised discrediting material and the candidate's answer. The extent of the countering opinion usually may not exceed the volume of the discrediting material more than three times. The means of the mass media must publicise the candidate's countering opinion within 7 days after it has been expressed, but not later than 3 days before the election. If the means of the mass media itself cannot publicise the candidate's countering opinion during the period of time set by the law, it must with its own funds publicise the candidate's countering opinion in another means of the mass media.
199. The material which is aimed to influence voters not to vote for an individual candidate and which contains the information negatively describing the candidate shall be considered the material discrediting the candidate. An opinion about the candidate publicised in the mass media (unlike the information, criteria of the truth shall not be applied to an opinion), negative as well, shall not be considered as the discrediting material and shall not entitle the candidate for demand publicising a countering opinion. The candidate's demand to publicise a countering opinion may not be met also when: the material is publicised not about him personally; the publicised material about him is not discrediting; the discrediting material about the candidate is publicised by him or by another candidate who is nominated on the same list of candidates or is nominated by the same party, political organisation; the material contains no information describing the candidate; the candidate has already used the right to a countering opinion.
200. If the candidate has duly furnished the countering opinion to the means of the mass media, but it has not been publicised, by the decision of the Central Electoral Committee the candidate's countering opinion shall be broadcast on the state (national) radio or television and shall be paid for at the price of advertisements. In this event, the means of the mass media must pay the Central Electoral Committee two times the amount of the broadcast cost.
201. If the discrediting material about the candidate has been publicised during the period of time when it cannot be publicised according to this Law, by the decision of the Central Electoral Committee the candidate's countering opinion shall be broadcast on the state (national) radio or television and shall be paid for at the price of advertisements. In this event the means of the mass media must pay the Central Electoral Committee three times the amount of the broadcast cost.
202. In all cases a countering opinion shall not be publicised during the period of the prohibition of an election campaign. Publicising of a countering opinion shall not exempt the means of the mass media from responsibility under laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
203. When a countering opinion of the candidate is publicised by the decision of the Central Electoral Committee, the cost of publicising established by this Law shall be exacted without suit from that means of the mass media which has publicised the material discrediting the candidate during the impermissible period or has not publicised the candidate's countering opinion. Article
204. Prohibition to Conduct an Election Campaign while Abusing One's Official Position
205. Anyone shall be prohibited from abusing his official position in state or local authority institutions, offices or organisations, as well as in the state or local authority mass media when carrying out an election campaign, from instructing other persons to do so, or from trying to exert influence upon the will of voters in any other manner, while using his official position.
206. If a person is a candidate for Seimas member, he can use the state or local authority mass media only according to the procedure set forth in Article 51 of this Law. If the fulfilment of their duties requires to announce to the mass media important news, they can do it only at a press conference. The state or local authority mass media can publicise only a recording of such conference, which contains no election campaigning. Article
207. Provision of Finances for Campaigning
208. An election campaign shall be financed from the funds received from parties, political organisations and candidates for Seimas member, which are being accumulated in a special election account opened according to the certificate issued by the Central Electoral Committee. The maximum amount of money permitted for campaigning shall be in the amount of 50 AMWs for an individual candidate in a one-candidate electoral area and 1,000 AMWs for a list of candidates in a multi-candidate electoral area. If the amount of money transferred to the appropriate election account exceeds the established sum, the surplus shall be transferred by the bank to the State budget.
209. To establish that the expenditures of the election campaign shall be: the cost of preparing, acquiring, producing or rendering of events, publications, radio or television programmes, as well as items or services aimed at influencing the will of voters to vote for or against a candidate or candidates. It shall be prohibited to cover these expenditures from other than these accounts. Election campaign items and services the cost of which is more than 0,5 AMW cannot be provided free of charge. Election campaign items and services cannot be provided giving obvious discounts. Those who desire to support a list of candidates or a candidate must do this by transferring funds to special election accounts. If expenditures related to election campaign items were made before the commencement of the election campaign, the party, political organisation or the candidate shall inform the Central Electoral Committee about this, which, upon evaluating the election campaign items, shall reduce the maximum amount of funds of the special election account permitted to be used for the election campaign by the amount of their expenditure and shall issue a certificate that these items may be used during the election campaign. The means of the mass media without the state or local authority capital may indicate which list (lists) of candidates or which candidate (candidates) it supports and later publicise their election campaign free of charge. In this event it shall not be allowed to remunerate the means of the mass media for publicising such election campaign in any other way. In the event that single services of the election campaign, the cost of which is less than 0,5 AMW, are rendered for free by the supporters of a candidate, a list of candidates (it shall not be permitted to the individuals specified in Article 53), they shall not be estimated and shall not change the maximum amount of the special election account.
210. Upon establishing that during the election campaign the payment for election campaign items or services has been made not from the special election account, as well as in cash or indirectly, the tax inspectorate shall recover without suit the sum or remuneration (the sum or remuneration which had to be paid) paid for election campaign items, services from the receiver thereof and shall transfer to the State budget.
211. The election campaign shall be also financed from the State funds. A candidate, party, political organisation shall not pay for the time on state, local authority radio and television allotted to them under this Law, for the printing of campaign poster of a candidate in a one-candidate electoral area, as well as for publishing an election program, lists of candidates in newspapers, and these expenditures shall not change the maximum allowable amount of the special election account.
212. The utilisation of funds allocated for campaigning shall be controlled by tax inspectorates and the Central Electoral Committee. Parties, political organisations must file with the Central Electoral Committee reports, the form whereof is prescribed by the Central Electoral Committee, concerning the sources of funds and their utilisation for campaigning not later than within 25 days following the proclamation of final election results. The Central Electoral Committee shall publish these reports in the Valstybës Þinios. The candidates of one-candidate electoral areas shall file with the Central Electoral Committee reports of the prescribed form not later than within 15 days following the proclamation of final election results.
213. Special election accounts shall be closed not later than within 20 days after the proclamation of final election results. The party, political organisations which have nominated a list of candidates shall, at their own discretion, use the funds that have not been used for election campaigning. The funds of the accounts which have not been timely closed shall be transferred by the bank to the State budget. Article
214. Prohibition of Campaigning on the Day of Election Campaigning shall be prohibited 30 hours preceding an election and on the election day, with the exception of permanent visual campaign material in the places intended for this, provided that it was displayed at least 48 hours prior to the beginning of the election. During the period of election campaign prohibition no visual campaigning material (with the exception of those issued by the Central Electoral Committee) may be displayed in a polling place or within 50 meters of the building in which a polling place is situated. VIII. PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANISATION OF ELECTIONS Article
215. Establishment of Election Document Samples The Central Electoral Committee shall establish the samples and forms of voter certificates, ballot papers, posters of a candidate in a one-candidate electoral area and lists of candidates in a multi-candidate electoral area with the data about a candidate (candidates), voucher envelopes and outer envelopes for voting by post, other documents, blanks, questionnaires, official envelopes, packages, seals used in elections, as well as the samples for filling them out, if necessary. Article
216. Ballot papers
217. During the election to the Seimas, each voter shall be presented with two ballot papers: one for voting for a candidate in a certain one-candidate electoral area, and the other for voting for a list of candidates in a multi-candidate area.
218. The names of candidates for Seimas members shall be placed on the ballot paper of one-candidate electoral areas in alphabetic order on the same space and of the same type (types). Such ballot papers shall indicate the name and surname of each of the candidates for Seimas member, as well as the name of the party, political organisation which has nominated him or it shall indicate "Nominated himself". 3.A ballot paper of a multi-candidate electoral area shall contain the lists of candidates arranged according to the provided election numbers in an increasing order on the same space and of the same type (types). Such type size shall be chosen which would best fit to fill the space designed for inscription. A ballot paper shall contain the names of the party, political organisation, coalition or those which formed it and the surnames of not less than first ten candidates of the list. There shall be designated areas beside the surnames where a voter could express his positive opinion about the candidates entered in the list he is voting for.
219. The continuation of the candidates' rating table shall be shown on the other part of a ballot paper of a multi-candidate electoral area. There shall be designated areas beside the figures indicating the remaining candidates' number on the list, where a voter could express his positive opinion about the remaining candidates who are entered in the list he is voting for.
220. The voter can express his negative opinion by crossing out the candidate's surname or the number of the candidate on the list. Article
221. Delivery of Ballot papers
222. Electoral committees of electoral areas shall deliver ballot papers and envelopes to central post offices at least 2 days prior to the beginning of voting by post, ballot papers to electoral districts - 12 hours preceding the beginning of voting.
223. At the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania, voters must be provided with free access to ballot papers and envelopes for voting by post at least 20 days before the election, on ships voters must be provided with free access to the text not less than 15 days prior to the election. On ships ballot papers shall be printed according to their description sent by a radiogram.
224. The Central Electoral Committee shall be responsible for the publishing of ballot papers and envelopes for voting by post, as well as for keeping of records and delivery thereof without violating the fixed dates. Article
225. Preparation of Polling Places
226. A polling place of the electoral district must be completely prepared for elections not later than 12 hours before the beginning of voting. The electoral committee must also have counted all ballot papers received from the electoral committee of the electoral area and drawn up their acceptance report. In the polling place of an electoral district there must be a ballot box , secret voting booth (booths) in which a voter could fill ballot papers in secrecy. The following material, issued by the Central Electoral Committee, must be displayed in the polling place: lists of candidates eligible in a multi-candidate electoral area; election posters of candidates eligible in a one- candidate electoral area. The text of this Law must be accessible in each electoral district. The election campaign material, except for the material issued by the Central Electoral Committee, shall be removed from the polling place, passageways leading to or out of it (corridors) and within 50 metres of the building in which the polling place is situated. Working places for the electoral committee members, local election observers must be also arranged. Upon completion of preparing the polling place shall be closed, sealed, left under the police protection and the chairman of the electoral committee of the electoral district shall inform the electoral committee of the electoral area about this.
227. Other requirements for the preparation of polling places shall be established by the Central Electoral Committee. Article
228. Election Observers
229. Parties, political organisations, as well as candidates for Seimas member shall have the right to appoint election observers. An election observer shall be a person bearing the certificate in the form established by the Central Electoral Committee. He shall have the right to observe elections conducted on the territory of that electoral area or electoral district which is indicated in his certificate. The observer's certificate shall be issued by: 1) the Central Electoral Committee - to observe elections on the whole territory of the Republic of Lithuania and the country's diplomatic missions or only in specific electoral areas, districts pursuant to the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, adviser to the President of the Republic, requests of the persons representing foreign states or international institutions, as well as at its own discretion; 2) an electoral committee of an electoral area - to observe elections on the whole territory of this electoral area, in one or several electoral districts to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who are at least 18 years of age pursuant to the proposal of the candidate for whom it shall be voted in a multi- candidate or this electoral area or the request of the local office of the party, political organisation, in which the surname, name of the person, personal code, name of the electoral district (districts) must be indicated.
230. The observer's certificate shall be issued by the chairman of the electoral committee on behalf of the electoral committee or by any other member of the committee at the behest of the committee chairman. It shall not be allowed to refuse to issue a certificate or delay its issuance, if the person to whom it should be issued meets the requirements of this Law. All refusals to issue an observer's certificate shall be reported at the next committee sitting and an appropriate representative for elections shall be notified thereof.
231. An election observer shall have the right to demand the chairman and members of an electoral committee, as well as persons who are in the polling place should adhere to this and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Electoral committees must have care of providing an election observer with proper conditions in the polling place of an electoral district to monitor the observance of this Law. If an observer violates this or other laws himself, his observer's certificate shall be annulled by the decision of the chairman of the electoral committee of the electoral area, and the members of the electoral committee, the Central Electoral Committee and an appropriate representative for elections shall be immediately informed about the decision. IX. VOTING Article
232. Time and Place of Voting Voting shall take place on the election day from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the place designated by the electoral committee of the electoral district. The voter shall vote in the electoral district in whose list of voters his name has been included, unless this Law provides otherwise. Article
233. Prohibition to Carry out Other Activities in the Polling Place It shall not be allowed to carry out any other activities in the polling place, except organisation of the election and voting. It shall also not be allowed to carry out any activities in the passageways (corridors) leading to or out of the polling place and at the entrance to the building where the polling place is situated. Article
234. Commencement of Voting On the day of election, the polling place shall be opened only when at least 3/5 of the members of the electoral committee of the electoral district are present. Prior to opening of the polling place for voters, only the electoral committee members, observers and the policeman on duty can be present in it. The chairman of the electoral committee, together with the members of the electoral committee, shall make sure that the ballot box is empty and shall seal it up. After the electoral committee of the electoral district checks that the polling place has been furnished without violation of the established requirements, the chairman of the electoral committee of the electoral district shall register the total amount of the ballot papers received by the electoral committee of the electoral district from the electoral committee of the electoral area into the vote calculation record, set the seal on ballot papers, distribute the voter list and ballot papers among the members of the electoral committee, register the number of ballot papers distributed among each member of the electoral committee into the vote calculation record of the electoral district, and open the polling place for the voters, thereby proclaiming the commencement of the elections. Article
235. Voter Identification
236. At the entrance to the polling place, a voter shall present his voter certificate, passport or other document proving his identity and citizenship to an electoral committee member of the electoral district. Upon having established that the voter has arrived at the electoral district in whose list of voters his name has been included, a committee member shall hand the voter an arrival card indicating which the voter was to come to the polling place to vote and shall show the committee member to be applied to for a ballot. It shall not be allowed to hand several arrival cards to one voter or to hand another voter's arrival card to him. If upon arriving at the polling place, the person does not have the required documents or it is not clear whether he has been registered in the list of voters of this electoral district, the committee member shall not hand the arrival card to this person, shall hand him a guest's card and refer him to the committee chairman or deputy chairman to find out about voting.
237. The committee member who is instructed to hand ballot papers, having established on the basis of the produced documents that the person who arrived to vote is indeed the citizen who has been registered in the list of voters, or provided that two citizens of the Republic of Lithuania registered in the list of voters of that electoral district witness to this fact in writing to the electoral committee chairman, shall find the surname of the voter on the list of voters, and shall take the voter certificate and the arrival card from the person. After the voter and the committee member who hands ballot papers sign in the list of voters of the electoral district, the voter shall be handed ballot papers - one for an one-candidate electoral area and the other for a multi-candidate electoral area. A voter certificate and arrival card shall not be returned to the voter. In voting by post, an entry shall be made on the voter certificate concerning the issue of a ballot paper, and the voter certificate shall be returned to the voter.
238. It shall be prohibited to hand the voter the ballot paper of another person. The member of an electoral committee who violates this provision shall be liable under law. Article
239. Voting Procedure
240. Having been handed ballot papers, the voter shall go into the voting booth and mark the ballot papers. It shall be prohibited to mark ballot papers outside the voting booth.
241. On a ballot paper of a one-candidate electoral area, the voter shall mark the surname of the candidate for Seimas member whom he is voting for. On a ballot paper of a multi-candidate electoral area, the voter shall mark the list of candidates whom he is voting for.
242. On a ballot paper of a multi-candidate electoral area the voter may make appropriate marks in the table of candidates' rating - to express a positive or negative opinion about the candidate (candidates) included in the list of candidates whom he has voted for - to cross out the surname of the candidate or the number of the candidate on the list, and this shall mean voting for the establishment of a different sequence of candidates on this list. The voter may not make an evaluation and this shall mean that the sequence of candidates on this list will not be changed. If the voter has evaluated positively and crossed out the same candidate (candidates) or it is impossible to define the voter's will from the marks made, it shall be considered that the voter has not made any evaluation.
243. The voter shall personally cast his marked ballot papers into the ballot box.
244. Upon the request of the voter, spoiled ballot papers shall be exchanged for new ones. After a spoiled ballot paper is crossed out and signed by the member of the electoral committee who hands a new ballot paper, the spoiled paper shall be kept separately.
245. The voter who because of his physical disability is unable to mark his ballot papers himself, cast them into the ballot box, may invite another person (with the exception of the chairman of the electoral committee or its member, or an election observer) to carry out these actions in his place. Article
246. Voting by post
247. Voting by post shall be possible at post offices during their business hours beginning 12 days before the election and ending 1 day prior to the election, provided the voter is put on the voter list of the electoral area which is situated in that town, region, and ending 2 days prior to the election, provided the voter is not put on the voter list of the electoral area which is not situated in that town, region. Expenses related to voting by post shall be covered by the State.
248. The head of the post office shall be responsible for the organisation of voting by post. He shall be responsible for keeping of records, issue and collection of ballot papers and voucher envelopes during voting by post.
249. The head of the post office, with the consent of the electoral committee of the electoral area, shall appoint postal workers (officers) for the issue and collection of ballot papers and voucher envelopes during voting by post, who are entrusted with the issue of ballot papers and voucher envelopes. If the electoral committee of the electoral area requests so, the head of the post office must remove a postal worker from the work with election documents. Postal workers who are authorised to issue election papers shall be issued by the electoral committee of the electoral area the certificates of the established form. An electoral committee member, election observer, having produced his certificate to the postal worker, a voter, having produced the voter certificate and the document proving his identity, shall have the right to write his remark in this certificate, and the head of the post office shall immediately notify the electoral committee of the electoral area about this remark. The postal worker who does not have this certificate shall not have the right to issue election papers.
250. Post offices must provide a room (place) where the voter can, without interference and in secrecy, mark the ballot papers and put them into a voucher envelope.
251. The postal worker shall issue election documents in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Electoral Committee. Together with ballot papers, voters shall be given envelopes for voting by post. An outer envelope for voting by post shall be addressed by the postal worker to the electoral committee of the electoral district which is indicated in the voter certificate of the person.
252. Voting in secrecy, the voter shall: 1) mark the ballot papers; 2) put the marked ballot papers into the voucher envelope; 3) seal the voucher envelope; 4) put the voucher envelope into the outer envelope together with the voter certificate; 5) may put a sheet of paper with the address to which he requests to send his own voter certificate in the event of the repeat voting; 6) seal the outer envelope.
253. The outer envelopes, voucher envelopes, and ballot papers shall be delivered at least 2 days prior to the election by a postman to the homes of voters who are not able to move. The list of voters who are unable to move shall be compiled at least 15 days before the elections by the electoral committees of the electoral district in accordance with the data submitted in writing by town, regional social guardianship and care institutions. Postal workers, members of electoral committees or other persons may not bring outer envelopes, voucher envelopes and ballot papers to the homes of voters who are not registered on the list of immobile voters.
254. The sealed outer envelope (with the voter certificate, voucher envelope and ballot papers in it) the voter may: 1) hand to a postal worker; 2) hand to the postman who has delivered the election documents to him; or 3) put into a post-box.
255. The postal worker who has delivered the election documents to the voter can take the envelope from the voter only the next day. It shall be prohibited to accept from the voter an outer envelope which is not sealed Article
256. Voting in Diplomatic Missions
257. Voting in diplomatic missions (consulates) of the Republic of Lithuania may take place during its business hours, but for at least 4 hours a day. If the voter requests so, the diplomatic mission (consulate) may send and accept election documents from him by post.
258. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Electoral Committee shall compile the list of diplomatic missions (consulates) in which voting shall be conducted and shall establish voting days (no less than 10) for each diplomatic mission (consulate).
259. The head of the diplomatic mission (consulate) shall be responsible for the organisation of voting. Article
260. Voting on a Ship
261. Voting shall take place aboard a ship if the ship leaves a port of the Republic of Lithuania at least 12 days prior to an election and does not return until the day of the election, or if other circumstances are such that a crew member or a board passenger who has the right to elect is unable to vote in his electoral district, by post or in a diplomatic mission.
262. The list of ships, on which there are no less than 10 crew members - voters, with which the radio communication shall be maintained during the voting and on which voting shall take place, as well as the time of voting on each ship shall be compiled by the Central Electoral Committee on the recommendation of the Ministry of Communication in such a manner that each voter who is aboard a ship is given the opportunity to vote. The captain of the ship, who is a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, shall be responsible for the organisation of voting on a ship. On a ship it shall not be voted for the rating of the list of candidates.
263. Voting shall not be organised on ships in which there are no conditions for organising the voting in accordance with the requirements of this Law. Article
264. The Procedure for Voting in Diplomatic Missions and on Ships of the Republic of Lithuania The procedure for voting in diplomatic missions and on ships of the Republic of Lithuania shall be established by the Central Electoral Committee. Article
265. Voting in Medical Treatment Facilities and Institutions of Social Guardianship and Care Institutions
266. Special post offices designated for voting shall be established in medical treatment facilities and institutions of social guardianship and care. At least 20 days before the election the electoral committee of an electoral area shall: on the recommendation of heads of medical treatment facilities, institutions of social guardianship and care compile the list of special post offices; on the recommendation of the head of the post office establish the working hours of these post offices. The head of the institution or facilities shall allot the place appropriate for voting and shall be responsible that the voters are notified about the working place and time of a special post office, and that the conditions should be created for voters to reach it.
267. Patients of such facilities and institutions who are able to move shall vote themselves in the voting place in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 66 of this Law.
268. Inmates of medical treatment facilities and institutions of social care who are unable to move shall be visited by officers of special post offices.
269. The voting person must, in conditions of secrecy, personally mark the ballot paper and put it into the voucher envelope. If necessary, he may be assisted by an individual (except an employee of that institution or facilities, a postman, a member of the electoral committee, or an election observer) whom he trusts.
270. According to the instruction of the head of the medical treatment facilities or the institution of social guardianship or care, it may be prohibited to disturb patients who are in bad condition for the purpose of voting. Such instruction shall be obligatory to postmen.
271. It shall also be prohibited to disturb an individual for the purpose of voting, if the commission of doctors has concluded pursuant to the established procedure of the Ministry of Health Care that he is incapable of understanding the essence of his actions and controlling them at the time of voting because of chronic mental disease, feeble-mindedness, or temporary mental disorder. Article
272. Voting in Military Units
273. Special post offices designated for voting shall be established in military units of the national defence system and internal service, as established in Article
275. If possible, chief officers of military units shall provide conditions for servicemen to vote in the electoral districts of their permanent place of residence. Article
276. Voting in Places of Confinement
277. Special post offices designated for voting shall be established in places of confinement, as established in Article
279. In accordance with the procedure set forth in the laws, heads of places of confinement may allow sentenced persons to vote in the electoral areas of their permanent place of residence. X. CALCULATION OF VOTES Article
280. Calculation of Voucher Envelopes and Ballot Papers in Post Offices
281. The records of voucher envelopes and ballot papers shall be kept by the head of the post office, indicating the data of said records in a journal specially designated for this purpose in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Electoral Committee
282. The post office head shall deliver unused envelopes and ballot papers to the electoral committee of the electoral area one day prior to elections.
283. The post office shall deliver envelopes containing ballot papers marked by voters to electoral committees of electoral districts on the day of the election, but not later than 2 hours before the closing of the election.
284. The Central Electoral Committee shall keep records of voucher envelopes and ballot papers in the Republic of Lithuania. Article
285. Organisation of Work of an Electoral Committee of an Electoral District concerning Vote Calculation
286. The chairman of the electoral committee of the electoral district shall organise and supervise vote calculation in the committee. His instructions for vote calculation shall be compulsory and all persons present in this place must adhere to them. He must ensure that votes would be calculated in accordance with the established procedure and shall have the right to warn any person present in the polling place if he hinders the committee in its work or does not perform his duties properly. The committee chairman shall publicly announce the decision. The decision shall be entered into the vote calculation record, and shall be signed by the committee chairman. The decision must be enforced without delay, and if necessary, the electoral committee may consider it only after the vote calculation record has been signed.
287. The data which are entered into the record must be publicly announced in such a manner that all the persons participating in vote calculation would hear them. If the validity of the ballot paper or the meaning of the marks in it raise doubts, the committee chairman shall present it to the committee members and shall announce voting concerning its evaluation (if there are several such ballot papers, he shall produce them one by one). The results of this voting shall be entered on the empty side of the ballot paper. Article
288. Keeping of Records of Ballot Papers in Electoral Districts
289. Upon the closing of a polling place, the chairman of the electoral committee of the electoral district, in the presence of at least 3/5 of the members of the electoral committee, shall seal and stamp the ballot box slot.
290. Unused ballot papers shall be individually collected from each member of the electoral committee, shall be counted publicly, the number of them shall be entered into the vote calculation record. According to signatures in the voter list, voter certificates, arrival cards, ballot papers which have been spoiled by voters and returned to be exchanged for blank ballot papers it shall be inspected if the committee member has handed all ballot papers lawfully.
291. The electoral committee shall count the unused and spoiled ballot papers publicly; annul them by cutting off the upper right corner; put them into the envelopes specially designated for this purpose and seal these envelopes. The number of unused or spoiled ballot papers shall be entered in the vote calculation record. Article
292. Calculation of Votes of the Voters who have Voted in the Polling Place of the Electoral District
293. The electoral committee of the electoral district, in the presence of at least 3/5 of its members, shall inspect the ballot box of the electoral district whether the seals have not been broken and whether there are no other evidences which indicate that it could have been opened or that ballot papers could have been removed in any other way. The electoral committee, in the presence of at least 3/5 of its members, shall decide if the ballot box has been tampered with. If the committee decides that the ballot box was tampered with, an act shall be drawn up about this, the ballot box shall be packed up, the package shall be put under seal and votes shall not be calculated. The ballot box shall be delivered to the electoral committee of the electoral area. The decision concerning calculation of votes of this ballot box shall be adopted by the electoral committee of the electoral area.
294. Having ascertained that the ballot box has not been tampered with, in the presence of at least 3/5 if the members