The Batory Foundation reminds voters what to bear in mind and what to do to avoid wasting their vote and correctly mark their chosen candidates on all the ballots. Joanna Załuska, director of the Your Voice, Your Choice programme at the Batory Foundation:

We want no vote to be wasted this year—that is, deemed invalid. We appeal to everyone who will vote in the upcoming elections to cast a vote also on the ballots for provincial assemblies. It was precisely in elections for this level of local government that the most invalid votes were recorded in 2014. More than one million people put ballots with no mark at all into the ballot boxes—the so-called blank votes! This was a wasted opportunity, because decisions made by provincial assemblies determine, for example, development strategies and the distribution of EU funds in the region.

How to cast a valid vote?

At the polling station, each voter will receive a set of ballot papers. On each ballot received, one X should be placed next to the candidate’s surname. This will ensure that the vote is valid.

J. Załuska:

This year, the possibility of making an X understood as several intersecting lines and writing additions within the voting boxes has caused considerable controversy. Together with the National Electoral Commission, we appeal to voters to use one deliberate X on each ballot, and not to black out the boxes or add any notes. This will allow commissions to count the votes more quickly and will not cause uncertainty about the voter’s intention.

If someone makes a mistake, they should completely black out the box containing the mistakenly placed X so that no intersecting lines are visible.

More information about valid and invalid votes: https://twojglosmamoc.pl/aktualnosci/.

What should you remember?

  • The polling station where we are to vote can be found at: www.wybory2018.pkw.gov.pl/pl/obwody.
  • Polling stations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • At the polling station, you must show an identity document. This is a document bearing your photograph, such as an identity card, passport, driving licence, or student or school ID. It is not possible to confirm your identity in another way, for example with witnesses.
  • Voting is secret. We vote in places specially designated for this purpose, where no one can see how we voted.
  • After voting, we put the ballot into the ballot box so that the printed side is not visible. One member of the electoral commission—the ballot-box guard—will ensure that this rule is followed and that the ballot box remains intact.

Download: A short guide to the polling station, author: Piotr Jakubowski.

About the “Your Voice Has Power. Use It!” turnout campaign

Through the campaign at https://twojglosmamoc.pl/, we encourage citizens to participate in this year’s local elections. The coalition that launched the “Your Voice Has Power” campaign consists of organisations that have been encouraging greater civic engagement for years: the Stefan Batory Foundation (coordinating the work), Fundacja Aktywności Lokalnej FAL, Fundacja Projekt:Polska, Fundacja Rozwoju Demokracji Lokalnej, Fundacja Rozwoju Społeczeństwa Informacyjnego, Ogólnopolska Federacja Organizacji Pozarządowych OFOP, Ogólnopolska Sieć Organizacji Pozarządowych SPLOT, Stowarzyszenie Centrum Aktywności Lokalnej CAL, Stowarzyszenie Homo Faber and Stowarzyszenie Komunikacji Marketingowej SAR.

The campaign is social and non-political. The coalition does not campaign for political parties, electoral committees or candidates.