VILNIUS/PANEVEZYS - Lithuanians were electing a new parliament on Sunday, with the opposition Social Democrats tipped to emerge as the largest party but well short of a majority.
The outgoing center-right coalition of Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has seen its popularity eroded by inflation that topped 20 percent two years ago, by deteriorating public services and a widening gap between rich and poor.
"I got bored with the old government. I want something new", Hendrikas Varkalis, 75, said after casting his vote in Panevezys, about 100 kilometers northwest of the capital Vilnius.
Polling stations opened at 7 am (0400 GMT) and will close at 8 pm (1700 GMT). Results are expected after midnight local time.
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Opinion polls suggest Simonyte's Homeland Union will win just 9 percent, behind the Social Democrats on 18 percent and the anti-establishment Nemunas Dawn on 12 percent, though the eventual shape of a future coalition will depend on how smaller parties perform.
The Baltic state of 2.9 million people has a hybrid voting system in which half of the parliament is elected by popular vote, with a 5 percent threshold needed to win seats.
The other half is chosen on a district basis, a process which favors the larger parties.
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If no candidate gets over 50 percent of the vote in a district, its top two candidates face each other in a run-off on Oct 27.
Domestic issues have loomed large in the election campaign, with the Social Democrats vowing to tackle increased inequality by raising taxes on wealthier Lithuanians to help fund more spending on healthcare and social spending.
National security is also a major concern in Lithuania, which is part of the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union.
Election posters describe Simonyte as "the trustworthy guarantee for troubled times", holding a large umbrella to protect a young family with a child, with a soldier in the background.
"We need continuity for our country... so we can keep up the work towards protecting ourselves from the enemy", said Rimantas Latvenas, 70, in Panevezys.
