Standing for election is normally, at least to some extent, territorially limited, meaning that there is usually a requirement for a link between the constituency and the candidate representing it.
This may be a requirement for residency, employment, property ownership, or other. More significantly, some elections only allow candidates who are nationals of the particular State, whereas some also permit residents of a different nationality to run for office. International human rights law permits these restrictions in the light of the broad margin of appreciation that states enjoy, but justifications for doing so must generally be interpreted as strictly as possible. This means that any such limitation, even if accepted in principle, must be specifically necessary so that the restriction of a person’s right to stand for election is outweighed.
Local government elections
According to the law, to stand for election in a constituency, the candidate must be a permanent resident of this municipality. A person is considered as a permanent resident when a person has:
- A citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania
- A citizenship of another EU member state and has the right to live in the Republic of Lithuania
- The right to live permanently in the Republic of Lithuania and a permanent residence certificate (can stand for election if a person no later than 60 days before the election day, have declared their place of residence in the territory of this municipality
Presidential elections
A citizen of the Republic of Lithuania by origin who has lived in the Republic of Lithuania for at least the last three years and can be elected as a member of the Seimas can be elected as a President of the Republic as well.
Parliamentary (Seimas) elections
A citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is not bound by an oath or pledge to a foreign state and permanently resides in the Republic of Lithuania can be elected as a member of the Seimas.
European Parliament elections
In the Republic of Lithuania, a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania or a citizen of another EU member state who is not a candidate for the European Parliament in another European Union member state can be elected as a member of the European Parliament in the Republic of Lithuania.