What to know about Poland’s election committees and deadlines

To date, the National Electoral Commission has recorded 57 Election Commissions participating in parliamentary elections. The PKW will accept applications to form a committee no later than August 28.

34 party committees

The committee has registered 34 party committees, including the Confederation of Freedom and Independence, Nowa Lewica, Bezpartjni Samorządowcy, Polska Liberalna Strike of Entrepreneurs which announced plans to run independently in the Sejm elections, Polska Jest One, the Slavic Union Appeals Committee, the Freedom Party Appeals Committee, the Law and Justice Appeals Committee, the Agrounia TAK Social Movement Appeals Committee, the Bez Party Appeals Committee, the Anti-Party Appeals Committee, the Union of Christian Families Appeals Committee, the United Appeals Committee, the Responsibility Appeals Committee, the Normal Country Committee, the Free Europe Committee, the Poland 2050 Committee, the Movement for Poland’s Repair Committee, Piast – Unity of European Nations and the World, Ślonzoki Samen Committee, the Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Pirate Party Committee which indicated participation only in the Senate, Nowa Nadzieja, Wolni i Solidarni, Stronnictwo Ludowe Ojcowizna RP, the Congress of the New Right, New Democracy – Yes which begins for the Senate only, the Alternative Social Committee, the Law Committee which begins for the Senate only, Samoobrona, the Wolnościowcy Committee, Śląska Regionalna, and Ruch Unity Poland.

2 coalition committees

The committee has also formed 2 coalition committees: Civic Coalition PO .N IPL Greens and Third Way Poland 2050 led by Szymon Hołownia and the Polish People’s Party.

21 electoral commissions

PKW registered 21 electoral commissions including the Movement for Prosperity and Peace, the German minority KWW, Andrzej Dziuba Senate Pact with plans for Senate participation only, the Senate-bound Pact for Citizens, Marcin Nowak launching for the Senate, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski Senate Pact for the Senate, Krzysztof Lechowski Senate launch, Lasecki Civic Pact launching to the Senate, Lidia Staroń Always on the side of the people, Robert Roguski for the Senate, independent candidate Dawid Borowiak for the Senate, Mirosław Augustyniak as a Senate candidate, Dariusz Męczykowski for the Senate, Jan Maria Jackowski for the Senate, Prof. Dr. Joanna Senyszyn for the Senate, Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Gutkowski for the Senate, Wadim Tyszkiewicz Senate Pact, Civic Agreement, Ons Links, Zygmunt Frankiewicz Pact for the Senate, and Józef Zając for the Senate.

Who was refused? Who else is waiting?

The NEC refused to register two committees: Future of Poland and the Polish anti-war movement.

To address defects, a committee was convened: Beata Mnich, starting for the Senate only.

Pending registrations include the Jerzy Markowski, Liberal Democracy, Republican Party, Lucyna Kulińska serving the Republic, and nonpartisan anti-systemists committees.

What the rules say

Electoral commissions may form political parties, coalitions of parties, or voter groups.

If the notification complies with the Elections Act, the National Electoral Commission will decide within three days of submission. If flaws are found, the electoral representative is asked to correct them within three days. If defects are not fixed, the PKW will not accept the report. The election proxy can file a complaint with the Supreme Court against the NEC’s decision to refuse notification.

From the moment of registration, an Election Commission can start collecting signatures for candidate lists. The deadline for submitting lists for deputies and senators is September 6.

Under the Elections Act, a deputy candidate list must be supported by at least 5,000 signatures from voters residing in the relevant constituency. An election commission that has filed candidate lists in at least half of the districts may submit additional lists without signatures.

For a senator, at least 2,000 signatures from voters in the constituency are required.

To share seats in the Sejm, party electoral commissions and voter commissions must secure more than 5 percent of votes nationally; the threshold for coalitions is 8 percent.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 15, with Poland electing 460 deputies and 100 senators for four-year terms.

Citation: This overview outlines the current status of committee registrations and the electoral process as described by the Polish electoral authorities.