“More than 560 thousand Polish citizens have so far registered on electoral lists abroad. We expect this number to exceed 600,000 within 24 hours today. – said the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau. He emphasized that it will be three times more than during the House of Representatives elections eight years ago.
At a press conference in Warsaw, the foreign minister said that eight years ago fewer than 200,000 people took part in voting abroad. countrymen.
Four years ago there were 314,000. This year there are currently 560-several thousand.
– he inquired.
Since today is the last day on which Polish citizens abroad can register on the electoral roll, and the tendency to radically increase this number is more than clear, I can assure you that by today, 24 hours local time, we will states of the United States. , California, Alaska, there will be more than 600 thousand.
Rau said.
60 new locations
Comparing the figures with the parliamentary elections eight years ago, he emphasized that “three times more Polish citizens will participate in the parliamentary elections abroad and in the referendum,” and that twice as many members of district election committees will participate in the elections. He added that almost 70 percent was created for this purpose. More district election commissions and 60 new commission locations were created.
In preparing for the elections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continuously collaborates with the National Electoral Commission and the Central Election Commission, as well as with the Ministry of Digitalization
– said the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau. He added that an “unprecedented effort” had been made to enable Poles abroad to vote.
Rau, speaking about the preparations for the elections abroad, said that in September the ministry “prepared” several dozen MFA employees who were then sent to the missions abroad who, according to the ministry’s estimates, would provide professional services during the elections will need support.
He assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuously cooperating with the National Electoral Commission and the Central Election Commission, as well as the Ministry of Digitalization, in preparation for the elections.
Rau reported that also in some countries, including In South American countries, the US and Canada, election day will not be Sunday, but Saturday, so that voting can be closed on Sunday according to Polish time, so that Poles “will not wait for the mood of our compatriots around the world.” Atlantic Ocean.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs works together with the National Electoral Commission and the National Investigation Agency
According to the head of Polish diplomacy, an “unprecedented effort in the history of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our missions abroad” was undertaken, because wherever Polish citizens want to vote, the Polish state is obliged to do everything to ensure that they can take advantage of this opportunity.
The minister recalled that most Poles who expressed willingness to vote currently live in Great Britain. He noted that eight years ago there were 40 voting precincts, and currently there are 77.
This is the extent of this organizational momentum which, to our full satisfaction, is keeping pace with Poland’s democratic needs abroad.
Rau emphasized. He notes that this requires efforts in terms of logistics, planning and costs.
The minister pointed out that these voting circuits had to be organized in such a way that the circuit committees installed there would have no difficulty counting the votes cast.
And I am happy to inform you that statistically, but also in individual cases, these are smaller than those in the country
– he said.
READ MORE: MFA Project. We vote abroad in 402 constituencies. Due to the ongoing war, no elections will take place in Ukraine
edy/PAP
Source: wPolityce