Editing Elections in Lithuania (section)

== Referendums ==
{{Main|Referendums in Lithuania}}

Two types of referendums can take place in Lithuania: mandatory referendums and consultative (advisory) referendums.

Mandatory referendums must be held on these questions:<ref name="ReferendumLaw">{{cite web |url=http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=269831 |title=Law on referendum |publisher=The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania |access-date=31 July 2015}}</ref>
# to amend Chapters I (''The State of Lithuania'') and XIV (''Amending the Constitution'') of the [[Constitution of Lithuania]]
# to amend the June 8, 1992 Constitutional Act, "On Non-Alignment of the Republic of Lithuania to [[Commonwealth of Independent States|Post-Soviet Eastern Alliances]]" 
# to approve participation in international organizations if membership requires partial transfer of powers from state institutions

[[File:RIAN archive 375099 A polling station in Lithuania on the 1991 Referendum day..jpg|thumb|A polling station in Lithuania on the 1991 Referendum day.]]
Mandatory and consultative referendums can also be held on any other question if the proposal to hold the referendum is supported by at least 300,000 voters or the referendum is called by at least one quarter of all members of the parliament.

The referendum is deemed to have taken place if more than half of the registered voters participate.

The referendum question in a mandatory referendum is adopted if approved by more than half of all citizens participating in the referendum but no less than 1/3 of all citizens registered to vote. The following exceptions exist:
* The provision of Article 1 of the Constitution ("The State of Lithuania is an independent, democratic Republic"), and the Constitutional Act of June 8, 1992 can only be amended upon approval of at least 3/4 of all citizens registered to vote.
* Chapters I and XIV of the Constitution can only be amended upon approval of at least half of all citizens registered to vote.
* Questions regarding participation in international organizations are adopted if approved by more than half of voters participating in the referendum.

Questions in a consultative referendum are approved if supported by more than half of all citizens participating in the referendum. The parliament should then agree on the implementation of the question within one month. The parliament may still take into account the results of a consultative referendum even if it is invalid due to low participation.<ref name="ReferendumLaw" />

A total of 15 separate referendums have been organized in Lithuania (some of them with several referendum questions). Of these, four have seen the referendum question approved in a referendum deemed to have taken place. In February 1991, Lithuanian voter approved the independence of Lithuania from Soviet Union with 90.2% of voters participating (76.5% of voters eligible) voting in favor. In June 1992, the voters demanded through referendum an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and compensation for damages from the Soviet Union. In October 1992 the Lithuanian Constitution was approved. In 2003, the Lithuanian membership in the European Union was approved 90% of participating voters (57% of all eligible voters).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vrk.lt/ankstesni |title=Previous referendums |publisher=Central Electoral Commission |access-date=31 July 2015}}</ref>