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This, like some other innovations, is being introduced in this year’s elections to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and distribute voter flows more evenly.
According to Laura Matjošaitytė, president of the CEC, of the three largest cities, only in Vilnius will early voting take place in the municipal building, at that time in Kaunas and Klaipėda voters will be invited to vote elsewhere.
In Vilnius, in addition to the municipal building on Konstitucijos Avenue, residents will be able to vote at the Vilnius University Health and Sports Center in Saulėtekis, A. Sakharov Square near the Press Palace in Viršuliškės, Vilnius District Municipal Building in Rinktinės Street and Lukiškių Square.
“In Kaunas, voting will take place at City Hall and Kęstučio Street. 1, Kaunas Cultural Center. There will also be no voting in Klaipėda City Municipality, it will take place at 70 Fishermen’s Palace, Taikos Avenue”, said L. Matjošaitytė.
The Vilnius District Municipality has also planned four polling places: in addition to its building on Rinktinės street in the capital, it will invite voters to perform their duties in Nemenčinė, Švenčionių str. 12, Rudamina, Vilniaus street. 2 and Lavoriškės, Liepos str. 9.
The municipality of Palanga announced that it would allow voters to vote on Gintaro Street. 34 in the building marked 34, Radviliškis Municipality – Dariaus ir Girėno 37, Šalčininkai District Municipality promises to allow voting in the municipal building at Šalčininkai, Vilniaus Street and Eišiškės, Gegužės str. 19.
In addition to its building, the Municipality of Utena will also allow voting in the building marked with the number 7 in Plaza Utena.
Instead of its building, the municipality of Druskininkai proposes to vote in the premises of the alley 16 of Vilnius, municipality of the city of Šiauliai, in the cultural center Šiauliai of the alley 31 of Aušros.
The Municipality of Anykščiai stated that it would allow both the municipal building and the Anykščiai Cultural Center in A. Baranauskas Square.
The CEC reminds that voting is possible in advance in any municipality in the country.
Voting: four days, bring pens
This year, early voting will not take place two days as usual, but four, that is, from October 5 to 8, and voters will be able to vote one more hour in advance, starting at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. pm, not from 8 pm to 8 pm, as before.
On October 7, 8 and 9, voting will be carried out at special points, that is, hospitals, social and welfare institutions, places of execution of sentences: the director of the institution decides on a specific day. Two electoral commission members are dispatched to each of these locations, and the CEC also invites observers.
Residents are required to have a face mask, their own writing instrument, as well as an identity document when they come to vote this year. However, the CEC promises that it will be provided to those without a writing instrument.
Voters must also maintain a distance of at least one meter from each other.
“Voters at risk are advised to come in the morning during voting hours, that is, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. It is recommended not to bring other non-voting people into the voting room, that is, let them come alone ”, said L. Matjošaitytė.
It will be possible to vote at home in pavilions 9 and 10. This year, extended home voting will be available not only for disabled people over 70 who cannot go to the polls, but also for people who care for the disabled, as well as for residents who have been diagnosed or suspected of having a coronavirus or who have had to isolate themselves.
“People in self-isolation must complete an application in advance on the form prescribed by the Central Electoral Commission, indicate their last name, personal identification number, residence address, indicate in the application to which character they correspond, if they are ill, suspicious or in contact, “said L. Matjošaitytė.
According to her, by filling in the questionnaires, residents must consent to the processing of personal data by the CEC, the National Center for Public Health, so that the CEC can adequately prepare for the visit.
“Usually when you go to the polling station at home, it is enough to use devices to cover the mouth and gloves. When it comes to people in self-isolation due to exposure, there are more of those tools. And when you go to patients with COVID-19, there is a complete suit, booties, hat, respirators, “said the president of the CEC.
Commissioners receive specific training on how to work in a coronavirus pandemic.
L. Matjošaitytė stated that even after the municipalities increased the number of polling stations, the CEC could cope with the current number of employees, but due to the extended work they will have to pay more: an additional 3.7 million will be allocated for this. euros.
“We hope that with what we have we can do it, but the truth is that the process will be prolonged by the protective measures applied, disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and ventilation of the premises. The Commission will also take a little longer to count the votes, ”he said.
In addition, due to the coronavirus pandemic, voting in the four diplomatic missions in the Seimas elections will be carried out only by mail. This will apply to the Embassy in Israel, the Country Offices in Brazil, São Paulo and Los Angeles and New York in the United States. The Foreign Ministry requested this possibility in 35 of the 51 missions in the country, but the CEC rejected most of the proposals.
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