Lithuanian parliament advances electronic voter signature plan

Lithuania’s parliament has backed a proposal to require the Central Electoral Commission to create electronic voter signature sheets in its information system, LRT reported.

Lawmakers approved the amendments to the Election Code, initiated by Seimas member Ignas Vėgėlė, at the consideration stage on Thursday. The vote was 72 in favour, one against and 18 abstentions. The bill still needs to pass the final adoption stage.

Under the proposed amendments, the Central Electoral Commission would have to give a political campaign participant access to an electronic voter signature sheet in its information system within five days.

Vėgėlė said the change would allow political parties, political committees, candidates and their representatives to view and manage the signature collection process electronically, in addition to using paper forms.

He said the Supreme Administrative Court had ruled on January 14 that the commission’s obligation to issue signature sheets under the Constitutional Law on the Referendum also included a duty to create access to an electronic signature sheet in its information system.

Vėgėlė said similar regulation was therefore needed in the Election Code. The proposed provisions would take effect on October 1.

Under the current Election Code, election participants are issued only paper signature sheets. The code is included on the list of constitutional laws and can be amended only with the support of at least 85 of all Seimas members.