The Polish president has signed a change to the national referendum law, as announced by the Chancellery. The update allows a referendum to be held on the same day as major elections, bringing the two events into alignment on a single voting day.
The law, originally enacted on July 7, 2023, amends the framework governing national referendums. The presidential office communicated the signing via social media, confirming the official action.
The amendment alters existing provisions so that a nationwide referendum can take place alongside presidential, parliamentary, or European Parliament elections. It sets a common voting window from 07:00 to 21:00, enabling concurrent election activities and a single voter turnout period.
On the day of the announcement, the Sejm rejected the Senate’s objection to the referendum law modification. The bill, drafted by the ruling party, had passed the Sejm earlier in July. Later that month the Senate did not approve the legislation. A Senate critic noted that the Legislative Bureau had concerns about whether the new rules would ease voter participation. The critic also warned that harmonizing election and referendum hours could be challenging and might affect turnout. Other concerns pointed to the speed of lawmaking and questions about how combining this year’s parliamentary elections with the referendum could blur the line between the two processes, potentially increasing costs.
The referendum is scheduled for 15 October and will occur alongside parliamentary elections. The government urged the Sejm to approve a nationwide referendum, and the Council of Ministers proposed four questions for voters to consider.
Referendum questions
The first question asks whether the state should sell assets to foreign buyers, with concerns about the impact on national control over key sectors of the economy. The second question seeks views on retirement age, including a return to 67 for both men and women. The third question addresses the border barrier with Belarus. The fourth question questions the admission of thousands of irregular migrants from the Middle East and Africa under a mechanism tied to European relocation policies.
The Sejm is expected to review the government’s proposal during its ongoing session. This coverage notes the controversial nature of the questions and the procedural debates that have accompanied the reform process.