Upcoming municipal elections introduce changes for voters and candidates

The Central Electoral Commission (VRK) has announced that next spring’s municipal council and mayoral elections in Lithuania will introduce several changes for both candidates and voters.

Among the key updates are reduced nomination deposits for candidates, a ban on disinformation in campaign materials, and expanded options for voting from home.

Following amendments to the Electoral Code adopted during the spring parliamentary session, the nomination deposit for candidates has been halved. In the upcoming municipal elections, the deposit will be set at 1,214 euros. According to the VRK, the deposit applies to candidate lists or individual mayoral candidates. If a mayoral candidate is already included in a party list, only one deposit is required.

Additionally, candidates must now meet a longer residency requirement in the municipality where they are running. The VRK states that a candidate must have declared their place of residence in the municipality for at least 130 days prior to the election to be considered a permanent resident.

A clarification has also been introduced in the candidate questionnaire regarding cooperation with former Soviet special services. The term “knowingly” has been removed, and candidates must now disclose whether they worked as personnel for the USSR State Security Committee (KGB) or other special services.

Campaigning rules have been updated to prohibit the dissemination of disinformation. The Electoral Code now stipulates that the VRK will not publish or print election programs containing misleading or false information, or content that contradicts constitutional values or national security interests.

New regulations also allow for campaigning on election day, though restrictions remain in place within 50 meters of polling stations. Political campaign activities by third parties must be registered with the VRK and are subject to spending limits. Interested parties can spend up to 12,140 euros on campaigning, with total expenditures by supporting groups capped at half of a campaign participant’s allowed spending limit (121,400 euros). All expenditures and funding sources must be declared and reported to the VRK.

More voters will also have the option to vote from home. The amended Electoral Code expands eligibility to include pension-age voters who are unable to visit their polling station on election day. Additionally, residents can now financially support their chosen candidates through monetary transfers. The code has been updated to allow small donations of up to 70 euros to be collected in cash.

These changes aim to increase accessibility and transparency in the electoral process.