Klaipėda district voters did not succumb to the election fever

There are 34 electoral districts in the municipality of Klaipėda district. According to the data of the Central Electoral Commission, the following voters: mayors – 52,764, councilor elections – 52,764, voters participated: mayors – 21,798 (41.31%), councilor elections – 21,801 (41.32%), invalid of ballots: mayors – 501 (2.30%), councilor elections – 849 (3.89%), valid ballots: mayors – 21,297 (97.70%), councilor elections – 20,952 (96.11%) . Mandate distribution quota: 721.

Klaipėda district stubbornly does not give in to voting fever in the elections. The residents of the district, who have never shone in municipal elections, did not leave the most passive bench this time either. In Lithuania, the residents of the Four Waters Region are among the top six districts that voted most passively. The so-called traditional part of the district, as well as the district center Gargždai, is more active, while the most passive are those who live in Dituva, on the outskirts of Klaipėda, but do not realize that they are residents of the district.

Commenters on Facebook on Sunday evening did not spare “compliments” to those who did not vote: lazy, shameless! The verdict has been announced for those who did not participate in the elections: don’t lie on the couch and complain that everything is wrong, because you no longer have the right to do so.

Hopes of activity were dashed
In the Klaipėda district, the number of voters increased from 47,262 to 52,724 in four years. However, in the municipal elections on March 5, voter turnout was significantly lower than the average in Lithuania: in the Klaipėda district, according to the Central Election Commission, 41.32 percent voted. voters, while in the country – 48.97 percent. voters. In early voting, the voters who often opened the doors of the Civil Registry Office, where the Klaipėda District Municipal Election Commission was located, raised hopes that this year the citizenship rate will be significantly higher than before.
“I think that maybe we will even exceed 50 percent. the limit,” the insightful long-time chairman of the commission, Zigma Bitin, told “Bangai” already on the first day of early voting. But on Sunday evening, it was admitted that such forecasts were too rosy. “We constantly emphasized to the district commissions that respect for each voter is necessary, they are the most important. We paid great attention to the smooth process of organizing the voting, we tried to avoid even the smallest conflicts. Election day was quiet, we received one voter’s comment, but not a significant one. No serious incidents occurred. It is true that there were some observations regarding external election advertising: it is said that in some places the posters of parties and candidates were too close to the polling stations. After measuring the distance, it turned out that it meets the requirement of 50 meters. One poster near the Vēžaičiai polling station, which did not comply with such a restriction, was hung by the police on Sunday before 7:00 a.m., before the voting began,” March 5. Z. Bitinas, chairman of the electoral district of the Klaipėda district municipality, informed in the evening. He regretted that early voting activity, which was particularly strong in the district on Thursday, was not replicated on the main voting day.

The little ones are fed sweets
On Sunday afternoon, groups of people flocked one after the other in the Deauvilai election precinct. Most parents came to vote with their children. Members of the district commission traditionally feed the little ones with sweets. Such a sweet temptation has been waiting for the little Dovil residents for several elections. “Of course, children don’t lack those sweets themselves. But here they have a usual attraction, and that candy seems much more valuable and tastier,” commission members told “Bangai” with a smile.
Jonė Petronienė, an observer who observed the voting process in the election precinct, a representative of the Birbinčiai community, emphasized to “Bangai” that the election process in Dovilai is taking place without irregularities. The observer was happy that many young people came to vote. “Therefore, the young generation is already aware of the power of citizenship. This is very positive. We, the older generation, were able to instill a duty to the Motherland, and this is important for us”, reasoned J. Petronienė.
Romas Vyšniauskas, the chairman of the Dovilai electoral district, pointed out that this electoral district is extremely large, there are a lot of young people, there are many settlers here. There are about 3,300 people on the voter list of the area. “Approximately one third will vote”, predicted R. Vyšniauskas.

Interest is easier to choose
Working mood prevailed in the Väžaičiai election precinct from the morning. Voters did not have to queue in the spacious hall. A voting booth for the disabled is also comfortably equipped.
“My 95-year-old mother has already voted in the primary elections. The mother of a respectable age is a bright-minded person, very interested in the social life of the district, reads “Banga”, follows all the news. So you have a firm decision. When you are interested in the activities of politicians and their values, it is easier to choose. And I know very well what I voted for now, we appreciate the work done, the efforts, the respect for the people”, Birutė Kontrimaitė from Kuraita shared her opinion when met at the polling station after voting.
In the Gargžda electoral district no. 3 voters voted half an hour before closing the ballot box. It was chilly for the members of the election commission in the large gymnasium of “Vaivorykštės” gymnasium, but they joked that there was no time to get cold: the voters went one after the other. A number of Lithuanian Constitutions were distributed: the first-time 18-year-olds who voted will receive a gift from the state that encourages citizenship for life.