The elections took place on 9 and 10 June 1936, a bit less than ten years after the Third Seimas was dissolved by President Antanas Smetona.

Its five-year term was cut short on 1 July 1940 when Lithuania lost its independence to the Soviet Union.

[3] This caused an economic crisis in Suvalkija (Southern Lithuania), where farmers engaged in violent protests.

[4] Advisers to Smetona tried to convince him that a Seimas could share the criticisms that was aimed solely at the President.

A new electoral law provided that the nominations of the candidates must come not from parties but from counties and municipal councils which were appointed by the central government.