REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW
ON
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Chapter 1
General Provisions
Republic
The President of the Republic shall be elected by the
citizens of the Republic of Lithuania for a five-year term on the
basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage and by secret
ballot.
Article 2. The Right to Candidacy for the Office of
President of the Republic
Any person who is a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania by
birth, who has lived in Lithuania for at least the past three
years, who has reached the age of 40 prior to the election day,
and who is eligible for election to Seimas member may be elected
President of the Republic.
Time spent outside the boundaries of the Republic of
Lithuania, if spent in connection with political exile or
imprisonment for political convictions made prior to 11 March
1990, or with work at diplomatic services or other assignments of
the State of Lithuania, shall be included in a citizen of the
Republic of Lithuania's period of residence in Lithuania (Amended
5 January 1993).
The same individual may be eligible to the office of the
President of the Republic for not more than two terms.
Article 3. Universal Suffrage
Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who on the day of the
election are 18 years of age or over shall have the right to vote
for the President of the Republic. Citizens who have been
declared incapable by court shall not participate in elections.
Any direct or indirect abridgment of a citizen of the
Republic of Lithuania's right to vote on the grounds of their
sex, race, nationality, language, descent, social status,
religion, convictions, or views shall be prohibited.
Article 4. Equal Suffrage
Every citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who has the right
to vote for the President of the Republic shall have one vote in
the election.
Article 5. Direct Election of the President of the Republic
Voters shall elect the President of the Republic without
mediators.
Article 6. Secret Ballot
Voters shall vote in person and by secret ballot.
Controlling the will of the voters in the election shall be
prohibited.
Article 7. Making Public the Preparation and Execution of
Elections
State institutions and electoral committees shall prepare
and conduct the elections of the President of the Republic
publicly. Public notice must be given of all events (meetings,
sessions) related to the organisation of elections at least 12
hours prior to the commencement of the event.
The electoral committees shall inform the citizens about
their work;
the formation of electoral districts (apylinke); the composition
of electoral committees, their location and business hours;
the lists of voters; the results of candidate registration to the
post of the President of the Republic; and the voting and
election results.
The state mass media shall inform the public about the
preparation and execution of the elections of the President of
the Republic.
Representatives of all mass media shall have the right to
unrestricted participation in all events organised by the
electoral committees, attendance of all electoral committee
sittings, as well as the acquisition of information from the
electoral committees concerning the preparation and execution of
the elections.
Article 8. Expenses Related to the Preparation and Execution
of the Elections
The expenses related to the preparation and execution of the
elections of the President of the Republic shall be covered by
the State.
Chapter 2
Organisation of Elections
Article 9. Formation of Electoral Districts
The territories of towns and districts of the Republic shall
be divided into electoral districts. The division of every town
and region into electoral districts as well as their number and
size shall be established by a town or regional electoral
committee not later than 37 days prior to the election day.
At least 5 thousand electors must reside in the territory of
an electoral district.
Within 5 days from the approval of electoral districts, the
town or regional electoral committee shall inform the voters of
the boundaries of every electoral district, as well as its
quarters and place of polling.
Article 10. Electoral Committees
The elections of the President of the Republic shall be
organised and conducted by:
3) the electoral committees of electoral districts.
Members of electoral committees may not be candidates to the
office of President of the Republic or agents of such candidates.
Article 11. The Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall be the supreme institution for the
organisation of elections of the President of the Republic.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic shall be made up by the Seimas at least 45 days prior to
the election day.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall be composed of:
the Committee chairperson;
three persons who have higher legal education and who shall be
chosen by lot from six candidates nominated by the Minister of
Justice; and
three persons who have higher legal education and who shall be
chosen by lot from six candidates nominated by the Lithuanian
Society of Lawyers.
The Minister of Justice and the Lithuanian Society of
Lawyers may propose more candidates to the Electoral Committee
for Elections of the President of the Republic.
The drawing of lots during a sitting of the Seimas shall be
organised by the Seimas Chairperson.
Political parties, public political movements, and public
political organisations of ethnic minorities which have received
the mandates of the Seimas members in multi-candidate electoral
areas shall each have the right to nominate one candidate to the
Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic from this one list of candidates (joint list) presented
in a multi-candidate electoral area prior to the formation of the
Electoral Committee. The Seimas may not reject proposed
candidates.
The Seimas shall appoint the chairperson of the Electoral
Committee for the Elections of the President of the Republic. The
chairperson of the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic as well as members of the Committee who
were appointed by lot shall suspend their membership in political
parties, public political movements and public political
organisations if they are members of such organisations, and may
not take part in the activities of said organisations or
movements or carry out their instructions while working in the
Committee. The Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic shall elect the deputy chairperson and
secretary of the Committee during its sitting. The deputy
chairperson shall be elected from among the members who do not
represent political parties, public political movements or public
political organisations of ethnic minorities.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall be formed for the period of presidential
elections and shall lose its powers from the moment the President
of the Republic takes oath.
Article 12. The Powers of the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall:
2) register candidates to the office of the President of the
Republic and issue them presidential candidacy certificates;
3) establish the samples and forms of ballot-papers and other
documents used during the elections, as well as packages, stamps,
and samples for their completion, and the procedure for sealing
ballot-papers;
6) consider complaints concerning decisions of town or regional
electoral committees and electoral committees of electoral
districts;
9) hand over the documents of the elections of the President of
the Republic to the State Archive for keeping; and
10) execute other powers provided for in this Law.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic may not interpret the provisions of this Law. If it
is necessary to do so, the Electoral Committee for Elections of
the President of the Republic shall appeal to the Seimas for the
amendment of this Law. The Seimas shall consider questions
submitted by the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic according to the procedure of
particular urgency.
Article 13. Formation of Town and Regional Electoral
Committees
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall form town and regional electoral committees at
least 40 days prior to the day of elections of the President of
the Republic.
Town and regional electoral committees shall be composed of:
individuals who reside or are employed in the said town or region
having higher legal education and whose candidatures are proposed
by the Minister of Justice;
individuals who reside or are employed in the said town or region
having higher legal education and whose candidatures are proposed
by the Lithuanian Society of Lawyers (Amended 19 January 1993).
The Minister of Justice and the Lithuanian Society of
Lawyers may also propose more candidates.
Political parties, public political movements and public
political organisations of ethnic minorities which have received
the mandates of the members of the Seimas from the list of
candidates (joint list) presented in the multi-candidate
electoral area shall each have the right to nominate two
representatives from this single list of candidates (joint list)
to town and regional electoral committees (Amended 19 January
1993). The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic may not reject said candidates. In the event that
candidates are not nominated, the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic may additionally
approve candidates to the Committee who have been proposed by the
Minister of Justice and the Lithuanian Society of Lawyers in
their place.
The chairpersons of town and regional electoral committees
shall be appointed by the Electoral Committee for Elections of
the President of the Republic. During the first sitting, town and
regional electoral committees shall elect a deputy chairperson
and a secretary of the committee. According to the procedure
prescribed by this Article, more than one town electoral
committee having the powers provided for in Article 14 of this
Law may be formed in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas.
Article 14. The Powers of Town and Regional Electoral
Committees
Town and regional electoral committees shall:
1) divide the territory of the town or region into electoral
districts and establish their boundaries as well as the
numeration of the electoral districts;
2) inform the voters who reside in the respective town or region
of the boundaries of electoral districts, the quarters of the
town or regional electoral committee, the working hours and the
polling place;
5) consider appeals against decisions and actions of the
electoral committees of electoral districts and adopt decisions
concerning them; and
6) exercise other powers provided for in this Law.
Article 15. Formation of Electoral Committees of Electoral
Districts
Electoral committees of electoral districts shall be formed
by the town and regional electoral committees at least 36 days
prior to the day of the elections of the President of the
Republic. Electoral committees of electoral districts shall be
composed of proposed candidates of political parties, public
political movements and public political organisations of ethnic
minorities which have received mandates of the Seimas members
from the list of candidates (joint list) presented in the
multicandidate electoral area. These political parties, public
political movements and public political organisations of ethnic
minorities shall have the right to propose as many as 3
candidates to the electoral committee of the electoral district.
If candidates are not proposed, town and regional electoral
committees may proportionally enlarge the amount of
representatives of the indicated political powers.
Town and regional electoral committees may not reject
candidates who have been indicated in this Article and who have
been proposed to electoral committees of electoral districts.
Chairpersons of electoral committees of the electoral
districts shall be appointed by the town and regional electoral
committees. Electoral committees of electoral districts shall
elect a deputy chairperson and a secretary of the electoral
committee during their first sitting.
Article 16. The Powers of Electoral Committees of Electoral
Districts
Electoral committees of electoral districts shall:
1) receive lists of voters from the administrative bodies of
local governments, correct and approve them;
2) register voters on the list of voters of the electoral
district if the conditions provided for in part 2 of Article 24
of this Law are present;
4) submit the list of voters of the electoral district to the
town or regional electoral committee at least 25 days prior to
the day of the elections;
6) guarantee the furnishing of voting premises and ballot-boxes
in accordance with the requirements of this Law;
9) consider appeals and adopt decisions related thereto of voters
and observers of their respective electoral district on issues
concerning the preparation of elections, the organisation of
voting, and the calculation of votes and the drawing up of
records thereof; and
10) exercise other powers provided for in this Law.
Article 17. Organisation of Electoral Committee Work
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 committee shall be adopted by
open, majority vote. In the event of a tie vote, the committee
chairperson's vote shall have power of decision. Committee
members not in agreement with a decision shall have the right to
state a different opinion in writing, which shall then be
appended to the minutes of the meeting.
Upon the completion of voting, the electoral committees of
electoral districts as well as town or regional electoral
committees may only adopt decisions related to the drawing up of
records of the calculation of votes.
All electoral committee sittings shall be public. The right
to participate therein shall be granted to observers appointed by
political parties and public political movements, candidates who
have nominated themselves to the office of the President of the
Republic, as well as agents of candidates to the office of the
President of the Republic and representatives of all mass media.
No individual shall have the right to organise non-public
sittings of electoral committees.
While exercising their duties in electoral committees,
chairpersons and members of such committees shall be prohibited
from any form of campaigning or attempts to influence the voters'
will in any other way. Individuals who have violated this Law may
be dismissed from the committee.
Article 18. Appeals Concerning Decisions of Electoral
Committees which are Adopted prior to the
Completion of Voting
All political parties and political organisations which have
nominated a presidential candidate, as well as agents of
candidates to the office of the President of the Republic may
appeal against the decisions of electoral committees according to
the following procedure:
1) for decisions of electoral committees of electoral districts -
to the town or regional electoral committee;
2) for decisions of town or regional electoral committees - to
the Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic; and
3) for decisions of the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic - to the Supreme Court.
Appeals must be considered within 48 hours of the time the
appeal is submitted. Non-working days shall also be included in
this period. The decision of the Supreme Court shall be final.
Article 19. Appeals Concerning Decisions of Electoral
Committees which are Adopted after the Completion
of Voting
All political parties and political organisations which have
nominated presidential candidates, as well as the agents of
candidates to the office of the President of the Republic, may
appeal to the town or regional electoral committees against the
decisions of electoral committees of electoral districts
concerning the drawing up of records of the calculation of votes
not later than within 24 hours of their adoption.
Such appeals must be considered not later than within 24
hours. Town or regional electoral committees, in considering
appeals concerning the drawing up of records of the calculation
of votes, may recount the ballot-papers presented by the
electoral committee of an electoral district, provided at least
three-fifths of the town or regional electoral committee members
are present. Upon establishing an arithmetic mistake or
incorrectly calculated valid or invalid ballot-papers, the
committee may amend the records of the calculation of votes. Town
or regional electoral committees shall not have the right to
declare invalid the records of the calculation of votes drawn up
by electoral committees of electoral districts.
The decisions of the Electoral Committee for Elections of
the President of the Republic may be appealed against to the
Supreme Court not later than within 2 days of their adoption, and
must be considered not later than within 48 hours. This term
shall also include non-working days.
The decision of the Supreme Court shall be final and its
execution shall be binding upon the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic. While considering
appeals against the decisions of town or regional electoral
committees concerning the drawing up of records of the
calculation of votes in a respective town or region, the
Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic may re-count the ballot-papers presented by the town or
regional electoral committee.
Upon establishing an arithmetic mistake or incorrectly
calculated ballot-papers, the Committee may amend the entries in
the records of the calculation of votes of the respective town,
region or electoral district. The Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic shall not have the
right to declare invalid town or regional records of the
calculation of votes.
Article 20. Assistance for Electoral Committees
State institutions, firms, offices and organisations and
their officials must assist electoral committees in exercising
their powers, and must furnish them with necessary information.
State institutions, firms, offices and organisations and their
officials must consider requests submitted by electoral
committees and give the electoral committees a justified response
not later than within 3 days.
Electoral committees may employ the required number of
personnel for assistance work. Local governments and State
institutions and organisations must provide electoral committees
with premises and equipment for the preparation and execution of
elections.
Article 21. Remuneration for Electoral Committee Members
Chairpersons and members of electoral committees shall be
paid salaries for their work in electoral committees in
accordance with rates submitted by the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic and approved by the
Government. Chairpersons and members of electoral committees who
are employed in firms, offices and organisations, and who are not
receiving wages due to their involvement in electoral committee
activities shall be paid by the State an amount not exceeding
their average monthly salary.
Article 22. Changing the Members of Electoral Committees
Chairpersons and members of electoral committees may be
dismissed from their posts in the committee by the institution
which approved the composition of the committee. As necessary,
new chairpersons or members of electoral committees shall be
appointed according to the procedure established by this Law.
Chapter 3
Voter Lists
Article 23. Compiling Voter Lists
For the execution of elections, voter lists of electoral
districts shall be compiled. Said lists shall be compiled by the
appropriate administrative institutions of local governments,
shall be signed by their chief officers, and shall be delivered
to the electoral committees of electoral districts at least 35
days prior to the day of election.
Electoral committees of electoral districts shall review and
approve voter lists. Approved voter lists shall be signed by the
chairperson and secretary of the electoral committee.
Article 24. General Procedure for Registering Citizens in
Voter Lists
Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have the right to
vote and who, at the time the voter list is compiled, are
permanently residing on the territory of that particular
electoral district, shall be included in the district's voter
list. In the event that a voter changes his permanent place of
residence after the compilation of lists begins, he shall be
registered in the voter list of the new place of residence. In
such a case, the voter must submit an application to the
electoral committee of the latter territory concerning his or her
registration in the voter list at least 30 days prior to the
election. The electoral committee of the electoral district must
see to it that the voter's name is struck from the voter list of
the electoral district of the former permanent place of
residence.
Article 25. Registration of Voters in Only One List
Each voter may only be registered in one voter list. This
shall be checked by the town or regional electoral committees and
the Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic. Upon establishing that a voter's name is registered in
the voter lists of several electoral districts, town or regional
electoral committees as well as the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic shall address the
voter within 20 days of the election day, requesting that he
announce within 5 days which electoral district's voter list he
wishes to be registered in. If the voter fails to make this
choice within the established period, the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic shall include the
voter's name in the voter list of the electoral district where,
in their opinion, it would be more convenient for the voter to
vote, and shall inform the voter thereof within 3 days. Such
decisions of the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic may not be appealed.
Article 26. Public Announcement of Voter Lists
At least 20 days prior to the election, the town or regional
electoral committees shall announce publicly the compilation of
voter lists and shall provide conditions for the voters to get
acquainted with the lists, indicating the time and place for the
voters to implement this right.
Article 27. Reviewing Voter Lists
Any voter may submit remarks concerning inaccuracies in a
voter list to the electoral committee of an electoral district.
The electoral committee of the electoral district must consider
the remarks and adopt a decision thereon within 48 hours of the
receipt thereof. The decisions of electoral committees of
electoral districts may be appealed against to the town or
regional electoral committee within 48 hours of the acceptance
thereof. The town or regional electoral committee must adopt a
relevant decision within 48 hours of the receipt of the
complaint. The town or regional electoral committee's decision
shall be final.
Article 28. Appeals Concerning Restoration of the Right to
Vote
A voter may submit complaints to the electoral committee of
an electoral district concerning errors made in the voter list
which hinder the voter from implementing his or her right to
vote. The electoral committee of the electoral district must
consider the complaint and adopt a decision not later than within
24 hours of the receipt thereof.
The decision of the electoral committee of the electoral
district may be appealed against within 48 hours to the district
court, which shall consider the complaint within 24 hours. The
district court's decision shall be final. Remarks as well as
complaints which are submitted later than 24 hours of the opening
of elections shall not be considered.
Article 29. Town and Regional Voter Lists
Town and regional voter lists shall be made at least 25 days
prior to the day of election by the town or regional electoral
committees according to the lists of voters of electoral
districts submitted by the electoral district committees.
Article 30. List of Voters of the Republic of Lithuania
The list of voters of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
compiled by the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic according to the lists of voters
submitted by the town or regional electoral committees as well as
the lists of voters residing abroad at least 20 days prior to the
day of the election.
Chapter 4
Nomination of Candidates to the Office of President of the
Republic
Article 31. Nomination of Candidates to the Office of the
President of the Republic
Individual persons may nominate themselves to the office of
President of the Republic.
Political parties and political organisations may nominate
and support candidates to the office of President of the
Republic. The number of candidates to the office of President of
the Republic shall not be limited. The nomination of candidates
shall begin the next day after the formation of the Electoral
Committee for Elections of the President of the Republic, and
shall end at least 40 days prior to the day of elections.
Article 32. Declaration of an Individual's Participation in
the Elections as a Candidate to the Office of
President of the Republic
Individuals who have been nominated or who have nominated
themselves to the office of President of the Republic must
declare their nomination to the Electoral Committee for Elections
of the President at least 40 days prior to the election.
If an individual is nominated by a political party or
political organisation to the office of President of the
Republic, this decision of theirs shall also be presented in
writing.
Documents confirming the identity of the candidate shall
also be submitted and a deposit equaling five average monthly
salaries shall be paid. Having collected twenty thousand (20,000)
voter signatures as provided in Article 79 of the Constitution of
the Republic of Lithuania, the total deposit shall be refunded to
the individual who has paid it.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall, not later than within 3 days (including non-
working days), confirm that none of the conditions indicated in
Article 78 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania which
prohibit an individual to be a candidate to the office of
President of the Republic are present, and shall adopt a grounded
decision on whether or not to issue the individual forms with the
name and surname of the candidate to the President of the
Republic for the collection of voter signatures. Refusal to issue
the forms for the collection of voter signatures may be appealed
against to the Supreme Court not later than within 3 days, and
that appeal shall be considered not later than within 72 hours of
its submission. This term shall include non-working days. The
decision of the Supreme Court shall be final.
Article 33. The Collection of Voter Signatures
At least twenty thousand voter signatures as prescribed in
Article 79 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania must
be collected on the form for the collection of voter signatures,
which shall contain the following text:
I, as a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, confirm my support
for the application of
.................................................................
.................................................................
.............................
(the person's name, surname)
to participate in the (month, day and year) elections as a
candidate to the office of President of the Republic of
Lithuania.
Serial No, Individual's Surname„ Name, Series and No of the
Document Confirming Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania,
Place of Birth , Permanent Place of Residence, Signature and
Date
The name and surname of the individual who has collected the
signatures shall be indicated at the bottom of the page, as well
as the series and number of the document confirming his
citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, his permanent place of
residence, and signature.
All information on forms for the collection of signatures
shall be filled out by the voters themselves. Voters may sign for
each candidate to the office of President of the Republic, but
may only sign for each candidate once.
Forms for the collection of voter signatures shall be
directly issued by the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic to individuals who have announced in
writing their participation as candidates in the elections of the
President of the Republic and, upon the request of these persons
- to persons indicated by them.
Article 34. Registration of Candidates to the Office of the
President of the Republic
At least 25 days prior to the elections, individuals who
have been nominated or who have nominated themselves as
candidates to the office of the President of the Republic must
submit voter signature collection forms containing at least
twenty thousand voter signatures to the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic which issued the said
forms.
Individuals who have been nominated or who have nominated
themselves as candidates to the office of President of the
Republic may submit a certificate of their health condition to
the Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic. The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President
of the Republic shall announce such certificates through mass
media.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall confirm that the forms for the collection of
voter signatures have been completed correctly not later than
within 24 hours of the receipt thereof. In the event that it is
discovered that a citizen has signed for the same candidate more
than once, none of that voter's signatures shall be counted.
Signatures of persons who did not record all of the necessary
information or who recorded incorrect information shall also be
annulled.
If, after all invalid votes are cast off, the candidate to
the office of President of the Republic has the signatures of at
least twenty thousand of voters, the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic shall register the
individual as a candidate to the office of President of the
Republic not later than within 3 hours.
Refusal of the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic to register an individual as a
candidate to the office of President of the Republic may be
appealed against to the Supreme Court not later than within 3
days (including non-working days), and the Court must consider
the appeal within 48 hours. The decision of the Supreme Court
shall be final.
Individuals who have been nominated or who have nominated
themselves as candidates to the office of President of the
Republic shall acquire the status of candidate to the office of
President of the Republic upon their registration as candidates
to the office of President of the Republic with the Electoral
Committee for Elections of the President of the Republic.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall officially announce the list of all
individuals who have been registered as candidates to the office
of President of the Republic no later than 22 days prior to the
day of the elections, and shall issue certificates of candidacy
to the office of President of the Republic within at least 3
hours of the announcement thereof.
The campaign for elections of the President of the Republic
shall commence on the day of the official announcement of the
list of candidates to the office of President of the Republic.
Article 35. Agents of Candidates to the Office of President
of the Republic
Individuals who have been registered as candidates to the
office of President of the Republic shall have the right to have
their own agents. Candidates to the office of President of the
Republic shall submit their list of agents to the Electoral
Committee for Elections of the President of the Republic, which
shall, not later than within 24 hours, issue agent certificates
(indicating the name and surname of the candidate) to the agents
of the candidates to the office of President of the Republic.
On the instruction of the candidate to the office of
President of the Republic, an agent of the candidate to the
office of President of the Republic shall have the right to
represent the candidate in meetings with voters and in the mass
media, to raise funds for financing the elections, and to carry
out other instructions of the candidate to the office of
President of the Republic which do not contradict laws.
Candidates to the office of President of the Republic may at
any time recall their agents in writing. An agent shall be deemed
recalled from the moment the declaration thereon is submitted to
the Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic.
Article 36. Observers of the Elections of the President
of the Republic
All political parties and political organisations which have
nominated an individual as a candidate to the office of President
of the Republic as well as candidates to the office of President
of the Republic shall have the right to appoint in writing
observers to each electoral committee. Observer of the Elections
of President of the Republic certificates shall be issued
immediately. The certificates shall be issued by:
1) the Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic - to observers who have been appointed to observe the
activities of the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic as well as the activities of town or
regional electoral committees; and
2) town or regional electoral committees - to observers who have
been appointed to observe the activities of the electoral
committees of electoral districts.
Election observers shall have the right to be present at the
sittings of electoral committees whose activities they have been
appointed to observe and to demand that the chairperson and
members of the electoral committee observe this Law.
Protests presented by observers in writing shall be attached
to the records and decisions of the electoral committee. In cases
provided for in this Law and according to the procedure
established therein, observers shall have the right to appeal
against the decisions of electoral committees. Organisations as
well as candidates to the office of President of the Republic who
have appointed observers shall have the right to recall the
observer in writing at any time. The observer shall be deemed
recalled from the moment the declaration of recall is submitted
to the electoral committee which issued the observer's
certificate to the individual.
Chapter 5
Guarantees of the Activities of Candidates to the Office of
President of the Republic
Article 37. The Right of Candidates to the Office of
President of the Republic to Speak at Meetings or
through Mass Media
After the official publication of the list of candidates,
the candidates to the office of President of the Republic shall
have equal right to speak at voter meetings or at any other
meetings, gatherings, or conferences, and to utilize state mass
media and publicize their election programme.
Heads of state institutions of power and government must assist
the candidates to the office of President of the Republic to
organise meetings with voters and to obtain necessary
information, with the exception of confidential information.
Article 38. The Right of Candidates to the Office of
President of the Republic to be Relieved from
Work or Service Duties During the Election
Campaign
Upon his or her request, a candidate to the office of
President of the Republic may be relieved from work or service
duties for the period of the election campaign but for no longer
than 2 months. During this period, the candidate shall be paid
two average monthly wages from State resources.
Article 39. The Immunity of the Person of a Candidate to the
Office of President of the Republic
During the election campaign and directly following the
elections, candidates to the office of President of the Republic
may not be found criminally responsible or arrested, and may not
be imposed with administrative penalties by court for their
actions during the election campaign of the President of the
Republic.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic shall see to the protection of candidates to the office
of President of the Republic.
Article 40. Amenability for the Violation of the Republic of
Lithuania Law on Presidential Elections
Individuals who obstruct, by means of violence, fraud,
threats, or any other way, the implementation the right of voters
to elect the President of the Republic, and the organisation of
campaigning, as well as the members of electoral committees and
other officials who have falsified documents of the election,
intentionally counted the votes incorrectly, or violated voting
secrecy, or this Law in any other way shall be responsible
according to the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Legal actions
shall be also brought against individuals who have announced or
publicized in any other way false information concerning a
candidate to the office of President of the Republic, or who have
interfered with a candidate's meeting with voters.
Chapter 6
Campaigning
Article 41. The Basic Principles of Campaigning
Political parties and political organisations, as well as
citizens and candidates to the office of President of the
Republic may begin campaigning from the day the campaign of the
elections of the President of the Republic starts to which the
provisions of this Chapter shall be applicable.
Campaigning may be conducted in any form or manner provided
that they do not contradict the Constitution and laws of the
Republic of Lithuania. The commencement of campaigning shall be
declared by the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic.
Article 42. Conditions and Procedure for the Use of Mass
Media
Candidates to the office of President of the Republic shall
all have equal opportunity to use State mass media free of charge
for the purpose of campaigning. The actual duration and time of
radio and television programmes used for each candidate's
campaign for the elections of the President of the Republic shall
be established by the Electoral Committee for the Elections of
the President of the Republic in coordination with the radio and
television administration and set in a manner which ensures that
principals of equality are maintained among the candidates to the
office of President of the Republic.
Candidates to the office of President of the Republic may
use the time allotted to them in State mass media themselves or
may permit political parties or political organisations indicated
by them, as well as to their agents or other specified
individuals, to conduct campaigning at the fixed time.
Only the special account of the Elections of the President
of the Republic shall limit campaigning in the commercial mass
media.
All disputes concerning campaigning shall be settled by the
Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic, which shall base itself on the principle of equality of
rights to candidates to the office of President of the Republic.
Upon the demand of a candidate to the office of President of the
Republic or the candidate's agent, mass media which has
publicised compromising material about the said candidate to the
office of President of the Republic must publicise the response
of the candidate or his agent at least 5 days prior to the day of
election.
Article 43. Prohibition of Officers of State Institutions
from Influencing the Will of the Voters
During election campaigns, officers of State institutions
and employees of the mass media shall be prohibited from using
their official duties for campaigning or otherwise influencing
the will of voters.
If such individuals are candidates to the office of
President of the Republic, they may only use the mass media in
accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 42 of this
Law. If they are required, in order to fulfill their duties, to
announce important news to the mass media, they may only do so at
a press conference.
Article 44. Financing Campaigning
Campaigning shall be financed from State resources as well
as from resources raised by political parties and political
organisations, and citizens and candidates to the office of
President of the Republic and which shall be accumulated in
special accounts for Elections of the President of the Republic
in the Savings Bank of Lithuania as well as its branches.
Candidates shall be paid from State resources on an equal
basis for the time on State radio and television which is
allotted to them, the printing of campaign poster, and the
publishing of election programmes. The utilisation of funds
allocated for campaigning shall be controlled by the Electoral
Committee for Elections of the President and by the Savings Bank
of Lithuania. The Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic and the Savings Bank of Lithuania shall
publicise the report concerning utilisation of State resources
for campaigning in the press not later than within 15 days after
the election of the President of the Republic.
Candidates to the office of President of the Republic, as
well as the elected President of the Republic, shall announce all
funds which were received and utilised for the elections
(indicating their sources) in the press not later than within 30
days after the election of the President of the Republic.
Article 45. Prohibition of Campaigning on the Day of
Election
Campaigning shall be prohibited during the 24 hours prior to
the commencement of elections and on the day of elections. During
this time, no campaign posters, with the exception of those which
are issued by the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic, may be put up within a 50 metre radius
of the voting places.
Chapter 7
Preparatory Activities for the Organisation of Elections
Article 46. Ballot-papers
For elections of the President of the Republic, each voter
shall be presented with a ballot-paper which shall contain the
name and surname of each candidate to the office of President of
the Republic. Candidates to the office of President of the
Republic shall be listed in alphabetic order.
Article 47. Delivery of Ballot-papers
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall deliver ballot-papers and envelopes to town
and regional electoral committees at least 10 days prior to the
day of election. Town and regional electoral committees shall
recount the received ballot-papers and envelopes and shall draw
up a report of the receipt thereof.
Town and regional electoral committees shall deliver ballot-
papers to the electoral committees of electoral districts at
least one day prior to the day of elections. The electoral
committees of electoral districts shall recount the ballot-papers
and draw up a report of the receipt thereof.
Town and regional electoral committees shall deliver ballot-
papers and envelopes to post offices at least 7 days before the
day of election. At diplomatic missions of the Republic of
Lithuania and on ships which are sailing under the national flag
of the Republic of Lithuania, voters must be provided with free
access to ballot-papers and envelopes for voting by mail at least
10 days prior to the day of election.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall be responsible for the issue, calculation and
delivery of ballot-papers and envelopes within the indicated
period.
Article 48. Voter Certificates
Voter certificates shall be delivered to each voter at least
10 days prior to the day of election. Voter certificates shall be
sent or distributed in another way by the electoral committees of
electoral districts which shall indicate this on the voter list.
If a voter's certificate is not delivered through the fault of
the electoral committee of an electoral district, it must be
issued immediately upon the voter's demand.
Upon written application, a voter may be issued a duplicate
voter's certificate.
Voter certificates shall contain:
6) the address of the polling place.
Chapter 8
Voting
Article 49. Time and Place of Voting
Voting shall take place on the day of election from 7 a.m.
to 9 p.m. in the polling place designated by the electoral
committee. Voters shall only vote in the electoral district in
whose voter list their names have been included. Votes received
by mail shall be valid only in the electoral district in whose
voter list the name of the voter has been included.
Article 50. Preparation of Polling Places
Requirements for the preparation of polling places shall be
established by the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic.
Voting booths must be set up in such a way that nobody is
able to see the voter who is inside. The text of this Law must be
accessible to each voter in all electoral districts. No other
political actions except the organisation of elections and voting
may be conducted in the polling place.
Article 51. Commencement of Voting
On the day of election, the polling place shall be opened
only if at least 3/5 of the members of the electoral committee of
the electoral district are present. Then, the chairperson of the
electoral committee, together with other members of the electoral
committee, shall make sure that the ballot-box is empty and shall
seal it. Having checked that the polling place has been furnished
without violating the established requirements, the chairperson
of the electoral committee of the electoral district shall
enregister the total number of the received ballot-papers into
the record of the calculation of votes, distribute the ballot-
papers and voter lists among the members of the electoral
committee, register the number of ballot-papers distributed among
each electoral committee member into the record of the
calculation of votes, and open the voting place, thereby
proclaiming the commencement of the elections.
Article 52. Voter Identification
Upon arriving at the polling place, voters shall present to
a member of the electoral committee of the electoral district
their voter certificates as well as their passports or other
documents certifying their identity and citizenship, and shall
sign in on the voter list. Voter certificates shall not be
returned to the voters. A ballot-paper shall be handed to the
voter only after the voter has signed. In voting by mail, there
shall be an entry made on the voter certificate concerning the
issue of a ballot-paper, and the voter certificate shall be
returned to the voter.
It shall be prohibited to issue a voter another voter's
ballot-paper. Members of electoral committees who violate this
provision shall be liable by law.
Article 53. Voting Procedure
Having been handed the ballot-paper, the voter shall go into
a voting booth and mark the ballot personally. The voter may only
enter the voting booth alone. The only exceptions shall be in
cases provided for in part 5 of this Article.
On the ballot-paper, the voter shall mark the name of the
candidate for whom he is voting. Voters shall personally cast
their marked ballot-papers into the ballot-box. Upon the request
of a voter, faulty ballot-papers shall be exchanged for new ones
by the decision of the electoral committee of the electoral
district. The chairperson of the electoral committee shall cross
out the faulty ballot paper in ink (ball-point pen) and shall
sign it. The electoral committee secretary and one of the members
shall also sign the faulty ballot-paper. Faulty ballot-papers
shall be kept separately.
Voters who are physically unable to mark their ballot-papers
themselves or cast them into the ballot-box may designate another
person to mark the ballot-paper and cast it into the ballot-box
for them. Electoral Committee chairpersons or members, as well as
election observers, shall be prohibited from carrying out such
actions for voters.
Article 54. Voting by Mail
Voting by mail shall be possible at post offices during
business hours beginning 7 days before the election and ending
one day before the election if the voter is put on the voter list
of that town or region, and ending two days before election if
the voter is not put on the voter list of that town or region.
Expenses related to voting by mail shall be covered by the
State.
The head of the post office shall be responsible for the
organization of voting by mail and shall be responsible for the
issue and collection of ballot-papers and voucher envelopes
during voting by mail.
An officer(s) shall be appointed responsible for the issue
and collection of ballot-papers and voucher envelopes during
voting by mail.
Post offices must provide a place for voters to mark their
ballot-papers and put them into voucher envelopes without
interference.
Voting by mail shall be conducted in accordance with the
procedure established in Articles 52 and 53 of this Law, with the
exception of the procedure for casting ballot-papers into the
ballot-box. The voter shall be given envelopes together with the
ballot-paper for voting by mail.
The voter shall put the marked ballot-paper into the voucher
envelope and seal it. Then, together with the voter's
certificate, the voter shall put the voucher envelope into an
outer envelope and seal that as well. The post office seal shall
be stamped on the outer envelope.
Envelopes for voting by mail shall be addressed to the
electoral committee of the electoral district in the list of
voters wherein the voter is registered.
Outer envelopes, voucher envelopes and ballot-papers shall
be delivered at least 2 days prior to the election by a postal
worker 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 7
days before the election by the electoral district committee in
accordance with documents submitted in writing by town and
regional social care and welfare institutions.
Post officials, 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.
Voters may:
1) hand the sealed outer envelope (with the voters certificate,
voucher envelope and ballot-paper in it) to a post office
official;
3) put the sealed outer envelope into a postbox.
Article 55. Voting in Diplomatic Missions
Voting may take place in diplomatic missions (consulates) of
the Republic of Lithuania during working hours. At least 4 hours
must be allotted for this every day. Voting days (at least 5) for
each diplomatic mission (consulate) shall be established by the
Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The list of diplomatic missions (consulates) in which voting
shall take place shall be compiled by the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic in conjunction with
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The head of the diplomatic
mission (consulate) shall be responsible for the organization of
voting.
Article 56. Voting on Ships Sailing under the Lithuanian
State Flag
Voting shall take place on board ships which sail under the
State flag of Lithuanian if the ship leaves a port of the
Republic of Lithuania at least 6 days prior the election and does
not return before the election day, or if there are other
circumstances which make it impossible for a crew member or board
passenger having the right to vote to vote in his or her own
electoral district or by mail.
The list of ships in which voting shall take place and the
time of voting in each ship shall be established by the Electoral
Committee for Elections of the President of the Republic in
cooperation with competent services and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in such a manner which makes it possible for each citizen
of the Republic of Lithuania who is on board a ship to vote. The
captain or assistant captain of the ship, being citizens of the
Republic of Lithuania, shall be responsible for the organization
of voting on board the ship.
Article 57. The Procedure for Voting in Diplomatic Missions
of the Republic of Lithuania and on Board Ships
which are Sailing under the State Flag of
Lithuania
The procedure for voting in diplomatic missions of the
Republic of Lithuania and on ships sailing under the State flag
of Lithuania shall be established by the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic.
Article 58. Voting in Medical, Social Care and Welfare
Institutions
Special post offices designated for voting shall be
established in medical, social care and welfare institutions.
Patients of such institutions who are able to move shall vote
personally in the polling place in accordance with the procedure
established in Article 54 of this Law.
Patients and inmates of medical and welfare institutions who
are not able to move shall be visited by officials of the special
post office who shall be approved by the town or regional
electoral committees. The person voting must, in conditions which
are created for his or her privacy, personally mark the ballot-
paper and put it into a voucher envelope. If necessary, the voter
may be aided by a person whom he or she trusts (with the
exception of post office and medical and welfare institution
employees, and election observers).
Under the instruction of the head of the medical, social
care or welfare institution, it may be prohibited to disturb
patients who are in bad health for the purpose of voting. Such an
instruction shall be obligatory to electoral committees.
It shall also be prohibited to disturb a person for the
purpose of voting if, in the procedure established by the
Ministry of Health Care, a commission of doctors has drawn a
conclusion that, at the time of voting, the person is incapable
of understanding the essence of his or her actions and of
controlling them due to chronic mental disease, feeblemindedness,
or temporary mental disorder.
Article 59. Voting in Military Units
Special post offices designated for voting shall be
established in units of the national defence system and internal
service. In accordance with opportunities, the chief officers of
military units shall provide conditions for servicemen to vote in
the electoral districts of their permanent place of residence.
Article 60. Voting in Places of Imprisonment
Special post offices designated for voting shall be
established in places of imprisonment. Heads of places of
imprisonment may allow sentenced persons to vote in electoral
districts of their permanent place of residence in the procedure
established by laws.
Chapter 9
Calculation of Votes and Establishment of Voting Results
Article 61. Calculation of Voucher Envelopes and
Ballot-Papers in Post Offices
Post office heads shall return unused envelopes and ballot-
papers to town and regional electoral committees one day before
the elections.
Registration of voucher envelopes and ballot-papers shall be
conducted by the head of the post office in a journal specially
designated for that purpose in accordance with the procedure
established by the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic.
The post office shall deliver envelopes containing ballot- papers
marked by voters to electoral committees of electoral districts
on the day of election, but not later than 2 hours before the
closing of the election. The Electoral Committee for Elections of
the President of the Republic shall conduct the registration of
voucher envelopes and ballot-papers in the Republic.
Article 62. Calculation of Ballot-Papers in Electoral
Districts
Upon the closing of a polling place, the chairperson of the
electoral committee of the electoral district, in the presence of
at least 3/5 of the members of the electoral committee, shall
close and seal the ballot-box slot, collect unused ballot-papers
from each member of the electoral committee of the electoral
district, record the number of unused ballot-papers in the vote
calculation record, count them publicly, and check, according to
signatures in the voter list, that no ballot-papers have been
handed in unlawfully.
Unused and faulty ballot-papers shall be counted publicly by
the electoral committee, annulled by cutting off the upper right
corner, and put into envelopes specially designated for this
purpose which shall thereafter be sealed. The number of unused
and faulty ballot-papers shall be entered in the vote calculation
record.
Article 63. Calculation of Votes in Electoral Districts
and Registration of Voters who Have Voted
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 to: ensure that the seals
have not been broken and that there is no other evidence which
indicates that it could have been opened or that ballot-papers
could have been removed in any other way. The 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 and votes shall not be calculated.
Upon the ascertainment that the ballot-box has not been
tampered with, the box shall be opened and the votes shall be
calculated. Votes shall be calculated in such a way that this
procedure and ballot-papers marked by voters can be observed by
all persons present during the calculation of votes. The
Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic shall establish the concrete procedure for the
calculation of votes.
Upon ascertainment that the ballot-box was not tampered with
and in the presence of at least 3/5 of the members of the
committee as well as observers, the box shall be opened, all
ballot-papers shall be placed on tables on which there are no
other documents and writing-materials, and the votes shall be
counted.
The number of the voters of the electoral district shall be
established according to the voter list of the electoral
district. The number of voters who have been handed ballot-papers
shall be established according to the voter lists testifying the
receipt of the ballot-paper. The number of voters who have voted
in the electoral district shall be established according to the
number of ballot-papers found in the ballot-box of the electoral
district. The number of voters who have participated in the
elections shall be established according to the number of ballot-
papers found in ballot-boxes of the electoral districts and the
number of ballot-papers received by mail.
Upon finding more ballot-papers in the ballot-box than were
handed to the voters, the committee shall take measures to
clarify the reason.
The results of the vote calculation shall be entered in the
vote calculation records.
Article 64. Registration of Voters who have Voted by
Mail and the Calculation of their Votes
After the calculation of ballot-papers found in the ballot-
box, ballot-papers received by mail shall be calculated in the
following procedure:
1) the chairperson of the electoral committee of the electoral
district shall present, unopened, all outer envelopes received by
mail. Their number shall be entered in the vote calculation
record;
3) voter certificates shall be taken out of the outer envelopes
and checked against the voter list of the electoral district, and
the voucher envelopes shall be stamped with the seal of the
electoral district. If the person on the voter certificate is not
on the voter list, if the voter has already signed the voter list
indicating that he or she has already voted in the electoral
district, if another envelope for voting by mail has been
received from the same voter, if there is no voter certificate in
the outer envelope, or if there is more than one voucher envelope
in the outer envelope, the seal shall not be affixed and the
ballot-paper in the envelope shall be considered invalid. This
fact must be noted on the voucher envelope;
4) in the voter list of the electoral district, a special record
of the receipt of the elector's vote shall be made by the surname
of the voter whose vote has been received by mail;
5) the sealed voucher envelope shall be cast into the ballot-box
prepared according to the established requirements; and
6) when all envelopes received by mail have been gone over in
this way, and upon opening the unsealed voucher envelopes, the
votes received by mail shall be calculated according to the
requirements of Article 63. If there is more than one ballot-
paper in the voucher envelope, all ballot-papers in the envelope
shall be considered invalid.
If only one sealed voucher envelope is in the electoral
district (committee), it, in order to protect the privacy of
voting, shall not be opened, but shall be handed over to the
senior electoral committee, which shall enter the results of the
voting in its vote calculation record.
Article 65. Vote Calculation Records in Electoral Districts
A vote calculation record shall be drawn up in every
electoral district. It shall include:
3) the number of ballot-papers delivered to each member of the
committee, the number of ballot-papers delivered to voters, the
number of voters' signatures, the number of voter certificates,
and the number of unused ballot-papers;
9) the number of votes found in the ballot-box which have been
separately cast for each candidate to the office of President of
the Republic;
13) the number of votes received by mail for each candidate to
the office of President of the Republic;
16) the total number of votes cast for each candidate to the
office of President of the Republic.
If more ballot-papers are found in the ballot-box than it has
been delivered to voters, this shall be entered in the vote
calculation record, indicating the number of extra ballot-papers
which were found.
The vote calculation record of the electoral district shall be
signed by the chairperson and members of the electoral committee
of the electoral district. After that the observers shall sign
the record. Their observations and the opinions of the members of
the committee shall be attached to the record and shall be an
inseparable part thereof.
Article 66. Invalid Ballot-papers
Invalid ballot-papers shall be:
3) ballot-papers on which more than one candidate to the office
of President of the Republic are marked by the voter; and
4) ballot-papers on which the voter has not marked any of the
candidates to the office of President of the Republic.
The decision to declare a ballot invalid shall be made by the
electoral committee of the electoral district.
Article 67. Presentation of Electoral District Vote
Calculation Documents to Town and Regional
Electoral Committees
All ballot-papers, including invalid and unused ballot-
papers, and voucher envelopes, vote calculation records, voter
lists and other election documents shall be put into a package
and sealed in accordance with the procedure established by the
Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of the
Republic. The package shall be delivered to the town or regional
electoral committee within 6 hours of the closing of voting.
The Electoral Committee for the Elections of the President
of the Republic and the Ministry of Internal Affairs must ensure
the safety of the transportation of election documents as well as
of the persons transporting them.
Article 68. The Calculation of Votes in Town and Regional
Electoral Committees
Town and regional electoral committees shall begin
calculating votes when all vote calculation records from all
electoral districts are received.
Article 69. Town and Regional Vote Calculation Records
According to the electoral district vote calculation
records, ballot-papers, and other election documents, the town
and regional electoral committees shall establish:
1) the number of voters who have participated in the town or
regional elections, which shall equal the number of voters who
have voted in the town or regional electoral districts;
2) the number of invalid ballot-papers in the town or region
which shall equal the number of invalid ballot-papers in the town
or regional electoral district;
3) the number of ballot-papers valid in the town or region, which
shall equal the number of ballot-papers valid in the town or
regional electoral district; and
4) the number of votes cast for each candidate to the office of
President of the Republic. This number shall equal the sum of
votes received in the electoral districts separately for each
candidate to the office of President of the Republic.
These data shall be entered in town and regional vote calculation
records, which shall then be signed by the chairperson and
members of the respective town or regional electoral district.
Article 70. Presentation of Town and Regional Vote
Calculation Records to the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic
Town and regional electoral committees shall put all
documents received from the electoral districts, the calculation
records of the electoral districts, the town or regional vote
calculation record and other documents into special packages, and
shall seal these packages and deliver them within 36 hours of the
closing of voting to the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic.
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic may begin to establish the election results only
after the vote calculation records of the electoral committees of
all towns and regions, as well as other documents indicated in
the first part of this Article have been received.
According to the vote calculation records of the town and
regional electoral committees and the vote calculation records in
diplomatic missions, the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic shall establish:
5) the number of votes cast for each candidate to the office of
President of the Republic.
Considering complaints filed in the procedure established by
this Law, the Electoral Committee for Elections of the President
of the Republic may recount ballot-papers and, upon the
establishment of errors in their calculation, may correct entries
in vote calculation records. The Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic may not consider
invalid vote calculation records of the electoral districts or
town or regional electoral committees due to errors found in vote
calculation records.
Upon the establishment that gross violations of this Law
were committed during voting or that the document forgery had a
decisive influence on the results of the election of the
President of the Republic, the Electoral Committee for the
Elections of the President of the Republic may consider the
results of the elections to the office of the President of the
Republic invalid.
A candidate to the office of President of the Republic shall
be considered elected if during voting for the first time in
which at least half of all voters participate, he or she receives
more than half of the votes of all voters participating in the
elections. If less than half of all voters participated in the
elections, a candidate shall be considered elected when he or she
receives the most, but no less than one-third of votes of all
voters.
If during the first voting round none of the candidates get
the required majority vote, a repeat vote shall be held within 2
weeks of the election day in the procedure established by this
Law between the two candidates who received the most votes in the
first voting round. In this case, the candidate who gets the
majority of votes shall be considered elected.
If no more than two candidates participate in the first
voting round and neither of them get the required number of
votes, a repeat elections for the office of President of the
Republic shall be held within 3 months of the day of the
elections in the procedure established by this Law.
Article 71. Participation of Observers in the Calculation
of Votes and the Establishment of Election Results
Observers of political parties and political organizations
which have nominated candidates to the office of President of the
Republic, observers appointed by persons who have nominated
themselves as candidates to the office of President of the
Republic, and representatives of all mass media may participate
in the calculation of votes in electoral districts and town and
regional electoral committees, as well as in the establishment of
election results in the Electoral Committee for Elections of the
President of the Republic.
Observers shall have the right to make remarks and claims to
electoral committees concerning violations of this and other laws
of the Republic of Lithuania, but they must not hinder the work
of electoral committees. Observers shall have the right to make
written protests which must be added to the electoral committee
records and decisions and, together with other election
documents, must be delivered to the senior electoral committee.
Article 72. Publication of Election Results
The final results of elections of the President of the
Republic shall be publicized by the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic within 4 days of the
elections.
The results of repeat elections of the President of the
Republic shall be publicized by the Electoral Committee for
Elections of the President of the Republic within 4 days of the
day of the repeat elections.
Article 73. Certificate of the President of the Republic
The Electoral Committee for Elections of the President of
the Republic shall issue a certificate of the President of the
Republic to the elected President of the Republic within 3 hours
of the publication of the election results.
Article 74. The Keeping of Documents Concerning the
Elections of the President of the Republic
After the closing of elections of the President of the
Republic and within 20 days of the end of the term established in
this Law for the consideration of complaints against its
decisions, the Electoral Committee for Elections of the President
of the Republic shall deliver records and voter lists of the
electoral districts and town and regional electoral committees to
the State Archives to be held for an unspecified period of time.
ALGIRDAS BRAZAUSKAS
Acting President
Republic of Lithuania
Vilnius
22 December 1992
No.I-28
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