It would be hard not to accept actions aimed at increasing voter turnout – this is how NEC head Sylwester Marciniak referred to PiS’s draft amendment to the Electoral Act. He stressed that the PKW could not allow the counting of votes to take several days or even several days.
“It’s the right intention.”
In an interview with PAP, the chairman of the National Electoral Commission referred to PiS’s draft amendments to the electoral law. It assumes, among other things, an increase in the number of polling stations, a change in the method of counting votes or transport to polling stations for the disabled and the over-60s.
It would be difficult not to accept actions aimed at increasing turnout in order to fulfill the state’s obligation to enable citizens to exercise their right to vote. All the more so because the legal task of the PKW is to develop democracy and civil society, increase electoral activity and spread civil rights
emphasized Marciniak.
After all, we all know that there are cities from which it is very difficult to reach the polling station, that there is a group of people who do not have their own transport. Such voters were effectively barred from voting. I understand that the intention of the drafters of the draft new rules is to create a situation where anyone who wants to take part in the elections can do so. And that is the right intention. However, to analyze the consequences of the introduction of these provisions, a detailed analysis of local conditions in municipalities is needed
said the head of the PKW.
He noted that under the draft, such information will be provided to election commissioners by municipal executives within one month of the law’s enactment date.
Then we also know how many people we need to work in committees. In this context, another proposal in the submitted draft is of great importance to liquidate two district committees in local government elections, the so-called day and night, because as we remember in 2018 we had huge problems to double the number of members for the get commission. However, now we have to wait for the adoption of possible amendments to the electoral law, then we will know the final form of the new legal solutions
he stressed.
A new way of counting votes
Referring to the new way of counting votes, the chairman of the NEC indicated that we cannot afford to count multiple days or even several days of votes.
Any extension of the announcement of the election results always arouses suspicion. It is important to me that the elections are conducted in a correct and transparent manner and that the results are announced relatively quickly
– said Marciniak, pointing out that current regulations allow this and that so far there have been no signs of irregularities in determining the outcome of the vote on that basis.
The PiS draft also imposes the obligation to file a declaration of purge for members of the National Electoral Commission designated by the Sejm and electoral commissioners born before August 1, 1972. As Marciniak communicated, this change was postulated by the National Electoral Commission and included proposals for amendments to the electoral law submitted to the highest government agencies after elections and in the draft amendments sent to the Sejm Rules Committee.
“I see it as a political tactic.”
Marciniak also referred to statements by both PiS and the opposition about the need to monitor the elections for fear of possible fraud.
I am used to political parties mobilizing their voters in this way. I am a little sorry that there is also an argument of lack of confidence in the electoral authorities, but I treat it as a political tactic
– said the head of the NEC and appealed not to do this, as it not only undermines voters’ confidence in the reliability of the elections and the determination of their results, but also undermines the legitimacy of the elected bodies , no matter what political force wins the election.
He also saw an opportunity in politicians’ calls.
We need to find 280,000 people willing to work on electoral commissions. My dream is that every election committee that nominates its candidates has at least one committee member. I hope that the result of this mobilization will be that we will have no problem recruiting candidates for members of the district committees.
emphasized Marciniak.
He did not rule out that the PKW might decide next year – depending on inflation and with sufficient financial security – to increase the remuneration for members of electoral commissions.
Central Electoral Register
The head of the NEC also referred to another draft amendment to the electoral law – on which the Sejm began work in mid-December – assuming the creation of a central register of voters.
Marciniak, in an interview with PAP, pointed out that the legislative process could end with the signature of the president in February or March 2023 at the earliest, i.e. about six months before parliamentary elections.
The Central Electoral Register is a major IT project and after the experience of 2014 I am skeptical whether it will be launched before the parliamentary elections
– said Sylwester Marciniak.
He points out that the election authorities have been calling for the establishment of a CRW for years. He pointed out that the Central Registry would solve the problems of being placed on the electoral roll and would also ensure that the lists submitted to the constituency’s electoral commissions were properly prepared. However, the head of the PKW stressed that the system must pass the necessary tests and be properly monitored.
There is a chance, but I am a realist and I believe there is a small chance that we can launch CRW before the 2023 election
he assessed.
The head of the PKW also sees no chance of adjusting the size of the constituencies in the Sejm elections in the near future, due to the change in the population of these constituencies. The proposal in this regard was submitted by the Commission to the Sejm at the end of October. The PKW analyzed the number of elected deputies in individual constituencies in relation to the number of residents – the analysis shows that 21 constituencies require changes to the number of deputies elected there. The PKW’s analysis also covers the Senate elections – it shows that three provinces need to make changes to the number of senators elected there.
Marciniak pointed out that taking into account the demographic changes, the NEC had already asked before the elections in 2015 and 2019 to shift the number of seats in the parliament or senate, but – as he said – did not deliver.
He stressed that the list of constituencies is an appendix to the Electoral Act, so any amendment to it requires the adoption of an amendment to the law, and above all it requires political will, which – as he said – currently does not exist. .
According to Marciniak, the PKW should be given a new power to change the number of elected deputies in individual constituencies based on demographic changes.
The current solution is ineffective because no political power is interested in change
he assessed.
The head of the PKW also considered in an interview with PAP that extending the tenure of local governments was the best solution to the problem of cumulating the dates of parliamentary and local government elections in 2023. “The difference between the first date for which local government elections may be ordered and the date of parliamentary elections is approximately one month. We forget that elections are not just a voting day, it is the entire election calendar. Voting ends the election, but everything begins three months earlier: it’s a matter of registering electoral commissions and candidates, it’s a matter of establishing territorial, district and ward electoral commissions, it’s a matter of drawing numbers and printing cards ‘ he enumerated. In addition, he pointed out, it is also the overlap of election campaigns and the impossibility of separating them, and therefore a good arrangement.
Finally, it would violate the constitutional principle of equality of elections, as candidates and committees participating in both elections would have an advantage
– added.
He also pointed out that local government elections are the most complicated, with the largest number of committees and candidates participating in them; very often there is a second round of elections.
With such a high degree of complexity in local government elections, when parliamentary elections are about to take place, I fear it will be difficult to find people willing to work on district committees. In addition, it would carry a high risk of errors. Postponing the elections will ensure a calmer work of both electoral commissions and in the earlier stages: the registration of commissions and candidates
he assessed.
This is not a matter of convenience for the election authorities. From the point of view of electoral authorities, it is of utmost importance that the results are not questioned so that there is no risk of error
– added the head of the PKW.
Marciniak expressed the hope that the Prime Minister, who in this case specifies the date of the local government elections, will determine the earliest possible date, i.e. the first week of April 2024.
As the European Parliament elections are likely to take place at the beginning of June, this is a difference of two months
he pointed it out.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce