Turnout reaches 28.1% in Nalšia northern constituency

Turnout in Sunday’s early parliamentary election in the Nalšia northern constituency stood at 28.1% by 4 p.m., according to data from Lithuania’s Central Electoral Commission, LRT reported.

Of that total, 18.61% of eligible voters cast ballots on election day. Another 2,699 people, or 9.49%, voted in advance, at home or in healthcare and social care institutions.

Commission chair Lina Petronienė said officials had recorded several minor violations during the first hours of voting. The constituency’s election commission reviewed several reports and found that political advertising may not have been labelled fully under the updated rules, which now follow a European standard. The issues were corrected, she said, adding that officials had received no reports of more serious violations.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and were due to close at 8 p.m. Voters could cast a ballot using a passport, identity card or driving licence.

Eleven candidates are contesting the seat: Ignotas Adomavičius, nominated by Nemuno Aušra; Giedrius Dainys of the Centre-Right Union; Gintautas Kindurys of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union; Social Democrat Vladislavas Kondratovičius; Nikolajus Lebedevičius of the Lithuanian Regions Party; Maksimas Paukštė of the Freedom Party; Mėta Paulauskė of the Liberal Movement; Antanas Šakalys of the Democrats’ Union For Lithuania; Andrejus Šildiajevas of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats; Viktoras Voroninas of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance; and Dalia Štraupaitė of the Union of the Nation and Justice.

The by-election was required after Jevgenijus Šuklinas, the constituency’s elected MP and a member of the Liberal Movement, died in late May. The Central Electoral Commission revoked his parliamentary mandate in early June. Under the Electoral Code, a by-election must be held within six months after an MP elected in a single-member constituency leaves office, unless less than a year remains before the next regular parliamentary election.