The anomaly of participation of lithuanian expats in denmark in 2016 seimas elections

The motives of Lithuanian expats‘ participation involvement and participation in Lithuanian politics has not been analyzed in-depth in Lithuanian scientific research. The latest one focused only on the reasons why Lithuanian expats do not vote. However, the aim of this research is to reveal the motives of expat voting, examining a case study of a sudden rise of Lithuanian expats living in Denmark in 2016 Seimas elections. Comparing the participation of Lithuanian expats in Denmark with the previous 2012 Seimas elections, the number of voters increased more than twice in 2016 Seimas elections. In this regard, the research is focused on examining the motives and their changes of Lithuanian expats living in Denmark that doubled the participation in 2016 Seimas elections. In order to response properly to the aim of the research, the analysis is based on qualitative research methods. This qualitative analysis includes hypothesis testing method according to Lipjhard‘s methods: theory-infirming, theory-confirming and hypothesis-generating methods. The analysis include expert interviews, interviews in-depth and content analysis with the following main tasks of the research: expert interviews reveal the main points of how the elections were held, what has changed comparing with 2012 elections and is expected to give the points of the involvement of several Lithuanian communities to the spread of the information about the elections. The latter feature is analyzed in the content analysis of social media accounts administrated both by Lithuanian communities in Denmark and Lithuanian Embassy in Denmark. Meanwhile interviews in-depth with Lithuanians living in Denmark show their individual aspirations that encouraged them to vote. The results of the research reveal that the ir personal social networks and the social media eletion campaigns had the most influence to the Lithuanians who voted in Denmark. They felt a closer connection to Lithuania as they are not totally assimilated to the another cultural environment. However, the striking fact is that Lithuanians who came to Denmark tend to talk more with their friends and relatives who are in Denmark about Lithuanian politics or politics in general. Respondents are more socially connected in Denmark as they even went to vote together. It is seen that more people voted in the Embassy in 2016 elections than in 2012 elections. Also, Lithuanians find danes more interested and more participating in their politics and ballots and they have seen or even personally felt the influence of danes that are more concerned about their own politics as it encourage Lithuanians to do the same. Other factors were also influential such as the increased number of young political candidates, comprehend voting as a duty, etc