Turnout in Sunday’s elections for the Sejm and Senate reached 57.54 percent, according to the National Electoral Commission. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and stayed open to welcome voters across the country. A total of 16,425,830 ballots were issued as part of the process.
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What was turnout like in 2019?
Four years earlier, in 2019, during the House of Representatives elections, hourly turnout reached 17 and 45.94 percent, illustrating how participation varied by moment and location.
The districts with the highest turnout
The head of the National Electoral Commission noted that district-level turnout varied. In district No. 20, the so-called Warsaw obwarzanek, turnout was 63.21 percent. District No. 19, centered on Warsaw, followed closely at 63.17 percent, while district No. 39 in Poznań registered 62.5 percent.
The lowest turnout was in Opole, district No. 21, at 52.26 percent. District No. 22 in Krosno recorded 54.41 percent, and district No. 29 in Katowice had 54.55 percent.
Turnout by voivodeship
The Mazovia Voivodeship reported the highest regional participation at 60.77 percent. Lesser Poland and Łódź voivodeships followed with 58.9 percent and 58.58 percent respectively.
The three voivodeships with the lowest turnout were Opole at 52.26 percent, Warmian-Masurian at 54.86 percent, and Podkarpackie at 55.23 percent.
The chairman highlighted turnout in major cities and capitals of the voivodeships. Warsaw led with 63.17 percent, followed by Białystok at 62.62 percent and Szczecin at 62.24 percent. Among provincial capitals, Lublin had the lowest turnout at 53.21 percent, with Gdańsk at 53.42 percent and Gorzów Wielkopolski at 57.92 percent.
Regarding the electorate, the city with the highest participation was Klwów in Przysucha County, Mazovia, at 75.59 percent. In contrast, Ustroń in Cieszyn County, Silesia, saw only 32.67 percent.
Marciniak noted that predicting exact patterns remains challenging and that the commission would respond to any notable developments as the day unfolded.
Voter flow and potential extensions
With lines extending in some areas, questions arose about whether individuals could vote after the standard closing time. The commission has previously allowed late voters in certain circumstances, and officials indicated they would assess such cases as they arise.
The spokesperson described the afternoon turnout as driven by broad interest, with additional attention stemming from the national football match aired later in the day at the national stadium.
In this vote, Poland was choosing 460 deputies and 100 senators. After the initial closing time, formal election silence remains in effect until voting ends, guiding coverage and public reporting.
The day’s events highlighted how turnout can reflect both civic engagement and public interest in national events beyond the ballot box.