Lithuanian lawmakers have proposed changes that could significantly restrict the right of citizens of other countries to participate in local elections, citing growing security risks and the rise of hybrid threats across Europe.
The initiative has sparked debates about national security, democratic participation and the integration of immigrants. Current legislation allows citizens of other European Union countries and third-country nationals with permanent residence permits to participate in local elections. They can also run for office. However, conservative MPs have argued that the current system sets Lithuania apart from the rest of the Baltics and poses growing risks.
MPs Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Dalia Asanavičiūtė-Gružauskienė from the conservative Fatherland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) have proposed amendments to the constitution to limit voting rights to citizens of countries whose values align with Lithuania’s European and transatlantic orientation. This would mean the EU, NATO, the European Economic Area and OECD countries.
The potential amendments are expected to be discussed in the spring session of parliament, which begins in March.
According to the proponents of the proposal,
Lithuania is currently the only Baltic country that allows third-country nationals to participate in local elections.
Estonia amended its constitution in 2025, and only EU citizens can participate in local elections, while in Latvia, third-country nationals are not allowed to participate in local elections.
Asanavičūtė-Gružauskiene pointed out that as the number of foreigners increases, the issue becomes strategic from political. She referred to the assessment of the Lithuanian State Security Service that Russia, Belarus and China are actively looking for ways to influence democratic processes in other countries through diasporas.
In January 2026, approximately 24,500 foreigners could participate in the local elections in Lithuania, which is three and a half thousand more than in 2023, and about half of these voters were citizens of Russia or Belarus. If the changes are made, approximately 77% of foreign voters will lose the right to participate in the elections. This has caused discontent among people who have been living in Lithuania for a long time. Belarusian citizen Olegs has been living in Palanga for more than ten years, and said that the initiative seeks to deprive immigrants of the rights they have already earned. The man said that the decisions made by the local government affect the daily lives of all residents, regardless of nationality. They were interested in how the streets are cleaned, how the mayor’s office functions – Palanga has had the same mayor for ten years and corruption reigns, but no one is saying anything.
Others indicated that
they understand the essence of the initiative and that security considerations are currently more important than integration goals.
Ukrainian journalist Maria Kutniakova said that she was surprised when she learned that third-country citizens can also vote in Lithuania. In Ukraine, only citizens of the country can participate in elections. She added that, taking into account the overall situation in Europe, security comes first.
Different opinions have also been expressed among politicians. The chairman of the State Security Commission, a social democrat, Rimantas Sinkevičius, said that he supports limiting voting rights to citizens. He emphasized that by allowing someone to vote, they are also allowing them to be elected, but it should be up to citizens to choose. The politician also rejected the idea that the proposal was aimed specifically at Russians and Belarusians, saying the changes would apply to everyone, although he also questioned whether long-term residents without citizenship could be considered loyal to the state.
Lawyers have warned that implementing the changes will be difficult. Constitutional law expert Darius Butvilavičius said that the current system is written into the Lithuanian constitution, which means it needs to be amended. This would require two parliamentary votes three months apart, with two-thirds of the deputies supporting each amendment.
The constitution has only been amended 15 times since it was adopted in 1992.
Read the full article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2827252/lithuania-pits-security-against-voting-rights-of-russian-belarusian-residents
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