The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) is a permanent supreme state institution which organises and conducts elections to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, elections to the Office of the President of the Republic, elections to municipal councils, elections to the European Parliament (hereinafter referred to as "elections") and referendums.
According to the Law on the Central Electoral Commission, the Parliament sets up the Central Electoral Commission no later than 200 days and no earlier than 140 days after regular or early elections to the Seimas. The Central Electoral Commission is also set up by the Seimas after the latter adopts a resolution pursuant to terminate the powers of the Central Electoral Commission. The Central Electoral Commission set up in this way exerts its powers until a new Central Electoral Commission is set up.
The Central Electoral Commission is composed of: 1) the Commission Chairman; 2) two members with the university law degree who are nominated by the Minister of Justice and appointed by the Seimas by secret ballot; 3) two members with the university law degree who are nominated by the Lithuanian Bar Association and appointed by the Seimas by secret ballot; 4) two members with the university law degree who are nominated by the President of the Republic and appointed by the Seimas by secret ballot; 5) members nominated by the parties which have received mandates of the Seimas members in the multi-member constituency, where such persons have the university law degree and the experience of working in electoral committees.
A citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is of good repute and who, under the Law of Elections to the Seimas, is eligible to stand in election as a candidate for Seimas member and has not been dismissed during the last three elections to the Seimas, presidential elections, elections to municipal councils or referendums from the an electoral or referendum committee due to violations of election laws or the Law on Referendum may be nominated to the Central Electoral Commission.
Decisions of the Central Electoral Commission adopted within the Commission's remit shall be mandatory for all electoral and referendum committees, state and municipal institutions and agencies, as well as other agencies, enterprises and organizations. They may be amended or repealed only by the Central Electoral Commission itself or the court. It shall be prohibited for state institutions, Seimas members and other officers, the parties, non-governmental organizations or citizens to interfere in the activities of the Central Electoral Commission when organizing and conducting elections or referendums. Specific Central Electoral Commission formation and change procedure, main functions and areas of activity are prescribed in the Election Code of the Republic of Lithuania.
