Turnout in Nalšia North by-election reaches 31.63%

Turnout in the by-election for a seat in Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, in the Nalšia North constituency reached 31.63% by 7 p.m. on Sunday, according to data from the Central Electoral Commission, LRT reported.

On election day, 22.13% of voters had cast ballots by that time. Another 2,699 voters, or 9.49%, voted early, at home or in healthcare and social care institutions.

Commission chair Lina Petronienė said officials had recorded several minor election-related issues during the first hours of voting. The constituency’s election commission reviewed reports of political advertising that may not have been fully marked under updated rules aligned with European requirements. 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 needed to bring an identity document, such as a passport, identity card or driving licence.

Eleven candidates are running: Ignotas Adomavičius, nominated by the Nemuno Aušra party; 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 Šakalis, nominated by the Union of Democrats “For Lithuania”; Andrejus Šildiajevas of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats; Viktor Voronin of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance; and Dalia Štraupaitė of the Union of the People and Justice.

The by-election was called after liberal parliamentarian Jevgenijus Šuklinas, elected in the constituency, died in late May. The Central Electoral Commission revoked his parliamentary mandate in early June. Šuklinas, a canoeist, was elected to the Seimas in 2024 with the Liberal Movement.

Lithuania’s Electoral Code requires a by-election to be held within six months when a parliamentarian elected in a single-member constituency leaves office. No by-election is held if less than a year remains until the next regular parliamentary election.