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1st LD Writethru: Lithuanians vote actively in first direct mayoral elections run-off

Xinhua, March 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

More than 5 percent of voters have already given their vote in the run-off of the first direct mayoral elections of Lithuania on Sunday.

The run-off is being held in 40 out of 60 Lithuanian municipalities, where mayors haven't been elected in the first round.

In the second round voters have to choose between two candidates who received the most votes in the first round held two weeks ago in conjunction with municipal elections to city and town councils.

According to the Central Electoral Commission, voting activity in the early hours of voting on Sunday reached 5.13 percent. A total of 4.11 percent of voters gave their vote in the early voting earlier this week.

"This is not a small activity compared to the previous elections. There is not much news on violations of electoral law," said Zenonas Vaigauskas, head of the Commission, at a press conference.

However, the first round of direct mayoral elections in conjunction with municipal elections to city and town councils wasn't completely fluent with results in Trakai municipality being annulled due to violations.

The direct mayoral and municipal elections in this municipality will be held in June, and the voters in Trakai do not participate in elections on Sunday.

Direct mayoral elections are being held in Lithuania for the first time. The Seimas, the Lithuanian Parliament, backed the idea of direct elections last year seeking to increase responsibility of mayors and improve voting activity in municipal elections. Previously mayors were elected by municipal councils. Endit