Poland
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 Parliamentary republic
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 38,483,957
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 312,679 km2
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 30,629,150
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Number of polling stations
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Average number of voters per polling station
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting age
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 18
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 List Proportional Representation
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21
The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term. If a candidate receives more than 50% of votes in the first round, there is no second round.
In the Senate, 100 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms. In the Sejm, 460 members are elected through an open-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 Polish parliamentary election, 2015
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 25 October 2015
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 The 100 seats in the Senate
Number of elected candidates-References:
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 50%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 15,597,073
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21
Part of Constitution
Separate legislation
Regulations or administrative rules
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April, 1997, art. 4&125:
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April, 1997, art. 235(6): The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April, 1997, art. 90(3), 125:
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-12-01 N/A
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-12-01 N/A
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-10-21 National Electoral Commission
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Independent
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 The legislature
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 conducted by the Council of Ministers.
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 1 - 10 members
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 For an unspecified period
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Head of State - Other
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-03 Poland currently has 16 voivodeships(province) , 379 powiats (counties or districts) (including 65 cities with powiat status), and 2,479 gminas (communes or municipalities)
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 constituencies are delimited for election purposes
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Equality of population
Respecting natural barriers
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Legislature (1st chamber)
Legislature (2nd chamber)
Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:
- Requirements on the right to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the right to vote revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral Eligibility
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the eligibility revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirements for party registration
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Signature requirement
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10
independent candidates can compete in both presidential and legislative elections
Candidates for Deputies and Senators may be nominated by political parties or voters. No one may stand for election to the Sejm and the Senate at the same time. The principles of and procedures for the nomination of candidates and the conduct of the elections, as well as the requirements for validity of the elections, shall be specified by statute.
Candidate nomination-References:
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10
- Requirement
Age
Citizenship
Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:
- Candidate registration deposit
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Amount of fee
- Return of fee
- Uncontested Election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Preparation of the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Extracted from a population/civil registry
Preparation of the voters list-References:
- Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Yes
Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:
- Who is responsible for the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Local Government Authority
Who is responsible for the voters list -References:
- Voters list preparation procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Inspection and objection procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Definition
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Prohibited forms of campaigning
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is not permitted to campaign
- Campaign Finance
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Campaign expense limit
- Income and expenditure of campaign expense
- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure
- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions
- Reimbursement of campaign expense
- Presiding officers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① How many of officers in a polling station
② Roles of each officer
③ How we nominate the officers
- Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Polling station location criteria
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting hours
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Is compulsory or voluntary?
② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?
- Ballot Paper
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots
② What has to be included in the ballot paper?
③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper
④ Valid and invalid ballot paper
- Voting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start ofvoting
- Process of voting
- End of voting
- Marking method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Who are subjected to do
② Voting procedures
- Counting Location
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 The polling stations
Counting Location-References:
- Counting period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Vote counting method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start of counting
- Process of counting
- End of counting
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Automatically (triggered) recounted under certain conditions
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-03 Citizens residing outside the country
Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation)
Members of the armed forces
Students
Diplomatic staff
Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:
- Overseas voters list preparation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Where to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods used to transport ballot papers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Apportioning of National Assembly seats
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Results Announcement
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Is the announcement of preliminary result required?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Deadline for announcement of final results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reason for holding a by- or re-election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- By-election dates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral process
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10
televised debates between candidates or party representatives are normally conducted:
in presidential elections
in legislative elections
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 1 day
Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Complaints against decisions of electoral commissions might be lodged to the higher ones. Complaints might be lodged also to Constituency courts, competent regional courts and the Supreme Court.
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-11-15 Protestagainst the validity of the elections to the Sejm shall be submitted in writing to the Supreme Court within seven days from the announcement of the election results by the National Electoral Commission in the Law Register of the Republicof Poland
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-01 N/A
Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Direct public funding
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10
both regularly provided and in relation to campaigns
Direct public funding-References:
- Private funding of political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- If so, is there limit on the amount a donor can contribute to candidate or political party
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Fines - Prison - Forfeiture - Loss of public funding - Deregistration of party
Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 National Election Commission responsible for checking submitted reports
Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:
- Which electoral processes are using ICTs?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10
publishes the statistical overview of voter lists online:
at the constituency level
at the national level
province level
Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:
- When it was introduced
- Last Updated : 2016-12-01 N/A
When it was introduced-References:
- Gender equality
- Last Updated : 2016-12-13
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-11-15
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 Election time only
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-11-10 N/A
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-01 N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-12-01 Following an official invitation to observe the parliamentary elections in Poland, scheduled for 25 October 2015, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 9 to 12 March 2015, and in accordance with its mandate, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Assessment Mission (EAM) for these elections.
International observation-References:
- Partnerships/MoUs
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International Activities
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Major challenges to elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Measures taken to deal with those Challenges
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03