Empowering the Next Generation: CEC Initiates Petition for 16-Year-Olds to Cast Their Ballots in Local Elections

The initiative group wants an amendment to the Constitution to be submitted to the Seimas, stating that citizens and other permanent residents of the administrative unit who have reached the age of 16 on the day of the election have the right to vote for municipal councils and mayors. Currently, adult residents of that municipality take part in municipal elections.

The legislative initiative group consists of ten representatives, the coordinators of this initiative group of citizens are Umberto Masis and Goda Butrimaitė. They will be responsible for receiving, properly using, accounting and returning the signature collection sheets issued by the CEC, the commission said on Thursday.

In order for the amendment of the Constitution to be submitted to the Seimas, the initiative group must collect 300,000 within four months, ie until March 6, 2024. signatures of Lithuanian citizens with the right to vote.

The collection of signatures will begin on November 6, and it will be possible to sign for the initiative electronically on the CEC information services portal rinkėjopuslapis.lt.

If the required number of citizens’ signatures are not collected within four months, the draft initiative is not considered in the Seimas.

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#CEC #registered #group #collect #signatures #vote #municipal #elections #age
2024-09-09 04:04:06

What were the main objectives of Lithuania‘s recent​ constitutional referendum concerning Article 12?

Lithuania’s Constitutional Referendum: Understanding the Recent Amendments and Voting Rights

Lithuania, a country in⁢ the Baltic region, has‍ been actively engaged in ‌revising its Constitution, specifically Article 12, to allow more citizens to hold multiple citizenships. ‍In recent months, two significant developments have taken‌ place in this regard: a referendum on retention of citizenship and a constitutional amendment initiative. This article provides an in-depth analysis of these events and their implications on Lithuanian citizenship and voting rights.

The Referendum on Retention​ of Citizenship

On November 16, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) approved the form of the ballot paper for the referendum on retention of citizenship⁤ [[2]]. ⁣The referendum aimed to amend the Constitution’s Article 12, allowing more Lithuanians to hold⁣ multiple citizenships. Unfortunately, the referendum failed to pass, with the majority of voters rejecting the proposed amendment [[1]]⁢ [[3]].

The Constitutional Amendment Initiative

A legislative initiative‍ group, consisting of ten representatives, has proposed an amendment to the Constitution, ⁢stating that citizens and other permanent​ residents of the administrative unit who ​have reached the age ‌of 16 on the day of the election have the right to vote for municipal‍ councils and mayors.‌ Currently, only adult ‍residents of that municipality take ​part in ⁣municipal ‍elections.

To submit the ​amendment to the ‌Seimas, the initiative group‌ must collect 300,000 signatures of Lithuanian citizens with ‌the right to ‍vote within ​four months,‌ i.e., until March 6,⁢ 2024. The ​collection of signatures began on November‌ 6, and citizens can sign for the initiative electronically on the CEC information services portal rinkėjopuslapis.lt.

Implications on Lithuanian Citizenship and Voting Rights

The failed referendum and the ongoing constitutional amendment initiative have significant implications on Lithuanian​ citizenship and voting rights. The proposed changes aim to expand the rights of citizens and permanent residents, ⁤granting them more autonomy‌ in participating in municipal elections.

The revised Article 12, if passed, would allow more Lithuanians to hold multiple ‌citizenships, recognizing the complexities of modern-day ⁤citizenship and the need for flexibility in an increasingly interconnected world.

Moreover, the constitutional amendment initiative, if successful, would lower the​ voting age for‌ municipal elections‍ from 18 to 16, providing younger citizens with an​ opportunity to participate ⁤in the democratic process and shape⁢ their ​local communities.

Conclusion

Lithuania’s recent ‌constitutional referendum and amendment initiatives are significant milestones in the country’s ongoing efforts to reform its citizenship laws ⁣and expand voting rights. While the referendum on ‌retention of citizenship failed to pass,​ the constitutional amendment initiative remains underway, with the potential to bring ⁣about meaningful changes to ​the country’s political landscape. As Lithuania continues to evolve and grow, it is essential ‌to monitor these developments and their implications ​on the lives of its citizens.

Lithuania referendum polls

Lithuania’s Constitutional Referendum: Understanding the Recent Amendments and Voting Rights

Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region, has been actively engaged in revising its Constitution, specifically Article 12, to allow more citizens to hold multiple citizenships. In recent months, two significant developments have taken place in this regard: a referendum on retention of citizenship and a constitutional amendment initiative. This article provides an in-depth analysis of these events and their implications on Lithuanian citizenship and voting rights.

The Referendum on Retention of Citizenship

On November 16, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) approved the form of the ballot paper for the referendum on retention of citizenship [[2]]. The referendum aimed to amend the Constitution’s Article 12, allowing more Lithuanians to hold multiple citizenships. Unfortunately, the referendum failed to pass, with the majority of voters rejecting the proposed amendment [[1]][[3]].

The Constitutional Amendment Initiative

A legislative initiative group, consisting of ten representatives, has proposed an amendment to the Constitution, stating that citizens and other permanent residents of the administrative unit who have reached the age of 16 on the day of the election have the right to vote for municipal councils and mayors. Currently, only adult residents of that municipality take part in municipal elections.

To submit the amendment to the Seimas, the initiative group must collect 300,000 signatures of Lithuanian citizens with the right to vote within four months, i.e., until March 6, 2024. The collection of signatures began on November 6, and citizens can sign for the initiative electronically on the CEC information services portal rinkėjopuslapis.lt.

Implications on Lithuanian Citizenship and Voting Rights

The failed referendum and the ongoing constitutional amendment initiative have significant implications on Lithuanian citizenship and voting rights. The proposed changes aim to expand the rights of citizens and permanent residents, granting them more autonomy in participating in municipal elections.

The revised Article 12, if passed, would allow more Lithuanians to hold multiple citizenships, recognizing the complexities of modern-day citizenship and the need for flexibility in an increasingly interconnected world.

Moreover, the constitutional amendment initiative, if successful, would lower the voting age for municipal elections from 18 to 16, providing

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