Info

Poland

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 136. Paragraph (1)
Verified:	2002/07/05

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Chapter 16.
Verified:	2002/07/05

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	a. Legislature (1st chamber)
Comments:	a. Chamber 1 and Chamber 2
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Chapter 16.
Verified:	2002/07/05

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	c. Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Article 127. Paragraph (1) and Law on the Election of the President 2000, Article 5. and Article 8(b).
Verified:	2008/03/06

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	c. Indirectly elected by legislature/chosen by parliament
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Article 154
Verified:	2008/03/06

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	b. Two chambers
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	g. List Proportional Representation
Comments:	The voter votes for one list and choses a name being listed.
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 160. Paragraph (1) and Articles 166-167.
Verified:	2008/03/10

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections c. Local elections d. Referendums
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	CConstitution, Article 62.
Verified:	2008/03/06

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	a. Judiciary b. EMB
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 13. Paragraph (1)-(3), Article 39., Article 46., Article 78-79., Article 81., Article 102. Paragraph (3), Article 123., Article 148-149. and Article 238.
Verified:	2002/07/05

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: National Electoral Commission
Website Address: www.pkw.gov.pl

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/12

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 36.
Verified:	2002/07/05

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 129.
Verified:	2002/07/05

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/10

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	c. For an unspecified period
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 36-37.
Verified:	2002/07/05

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations h. Political parties/ candidates i. Media
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, conducted by the National Electoral Management Body h. Yes, conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
Comments:	18
Source:	Constitution, Article 62. Paragraph (1), The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 6.
Verified:	2008/03/06

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Article 62., The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 6.
Verified:	2008/03/06

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	c. Local Government Authority
Comments:	A commune shall currently maintain the register of electors. Permanent register of electors comprise all the persons that permanently reside on the territory of a commune and have the right to elect (Article 11 of the Act on elections). Electors who reside on the territory of a commune without registration of their residence shall be entered into the register of electors on submission of a written application.
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 11. Paragraph (5) and Article 12.
Verified:	2002/07/05

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 17. Paragraph (1)-(3)
Verified:	2002/07/05

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections c. At any polling station in the same country d. At specially designated polling stations
Comments:	A vote staying temporarily within the territory of a commune, other than his/her permanent adress, for a period of time including polling day may, on request, be entered on the list of voters of the temporary residence. Special polling stations are established in hospitals, welfare home, prisons, Polish maritime vessels, for citizens abroad.
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 19. and Article 29-31.
Verified:	2002/07/05

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	c. Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation)
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 31.
Verified:	2002/07/05

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	a. Embassies b. Consulates f. Other
Comments:	Places are not specified by law. They are created by The Minister for Foreign Affairs after consultation with National Electoral Commission and usually organised by the Embassies and Consulates of the Republic of Poland or other places.
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 31. Paragraph (2)
Verified:	2008/03/06

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:	Applying "x" mark.
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 160. Paragraph (1)
Verified:	2002/07/05

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Signature requirement (specify requirement) f. Other
Comments:	a. 5,000 signatures of voters permanentely residing on the territory of a constituency for a constituency list of candidates. f. Organ of a political party which is authorised to represent a party in the outside contacts shall act as an election committee of this party and is obliged to notify the National Electoral Management Body about the intention to submit candidates for deputies to the Sejm, and to establish an agent of an election committee - who is authorised to act for and in the name of such committee, and a financial agent of an election committee, responsible for financing their participation in elections.
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 142. Paragraph (1)-(2)
Verified:	2008/03/06

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship
Comments:	a. 21 years
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 7. and Article 190.
Verified:	2002/07/05

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:	For legislation only as a candidate of a multimember constituency lists.
Source:	Constitution, Article 100. Paragraph (1) and Article 127.
Verified:	2008/03/06

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct c. Indirect
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 128. and Article 181., Act on Political Parties, Journal of Laws No. 98., item 604 and of 1998, No. 106, item 668., Article 28-29.
Verified:	2008/03/06

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Based on result of previous election c. Based on current legislative representation
Comments:	b. One-time payment dependent on the number of mandates gained in the elections to the I and II Chamber. c. Party whcich gaines 3% of valid votes jas the right to receive a subvention during the term of office of the Seym.
Source:	Act on Political Parties, Journal of Laws No. 98., item 604 and of 1998, No. 106, item 668., Article 29.
Verified:	2008/03/06

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Only from individuals, citizens and the amount is limited.
Source:	Political Parties Act, Article 24. Paragraph (1)
Verified:	2008/03/06

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 162.
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	f. Other
Comments:	If the upper election commssion, after having received the electoral results, finds inaccuracies, it shall order recalculation. So the National Electoral Commission can order the constituency electoral commission, the constituency electoral commission can order the ward electoral commission.
Source:	The Act of April 2001 on Elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Article 163. and Article 171.
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	g. Other (specify)
Comments:	In national services, election committees that have registered their constituency lists in at least half the election constituencies must receive an equal amount of time. In regional services, time is allotted proportionately to the number of candidates registered by the particular election committees. The order in which the electoral broadcasts of particular election committees are run each day is decided by a lottery draw.
Source:	http://www.aceproject.org/main/samples/me/mex15.pdf (by Electoral Law on Elections to the Diet of May 28, 1993) The Act of 12th April 2001 on Elections to The Seym of The Republic of Poland and to The Senate of The Republic of Poland Art. 182(1),(2)
Verified:	2008/03/06

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	a. Yes, in presidential elections b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:	It is not regulated by electoral law.
Source:
Verified:	2008/03/06

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	b. 2-3 days
Comments:	Blackout period lasts from midnight on Friday till the end of voting on Sunday.
Source:	The Act of 12th April 2001 on Elections to The Seym of The Republic of Poland and to The Senate of The Republic of Poland Art. 85.
Verified:	2008/03/06

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003 Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/25

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003 Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/25

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003 Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003 Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/25

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003 Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003 Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23