MP Obaz appeals to Jacek Sasin to use the ballots from the election that did not take place

Left-wing MP Robert Obaz wrote to Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin regarding the ballots for the election that did not take place. The ballots are to be destroyed. MP Obaz believes this would be another waste of resources.

– Given that the only option being discussed is shredding the unused ballots, I propose an alternative. The other side of the ballot is blank and can be used to print documents in the Sejm or given to schools or preschools for art activities. Using the paper in this way could benefit everyone while minimizing the losses resulting from expenditure on preparing the presidential election – Robert Obaz writes in his letter to the deputy prime minister.

Jelenia Góra, 23 July 2020

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin

Dear Minister,

The discussion concerning the PLN 70 million allocated to printing the ballots has been ongoing for several weeks now. However, the matter is significant because it concerns the waste of tens of millions of złoty on an election that did not take place and whose organization had been uncertain from the outset due to the Covid-19 epidemic in Poland. Spending this money is also a kind of symbol of the weakness of the state and the ease with which the money of millions of taxpayers is squandered.

However, given that the only option being discussed is shredding the unused ballots, I propose an alternative. Environmental protection, which we presumably all agree on, is one of our main priorities. Producing paper requires twice as much electricity as making a plastic bag. To produce one tonne of office paper, an average of 17 trees must be cut down. Therefore, I would like to appeal to you to allow the ballots to be reused for practical purposes. The other side of the ballot is blank and can be used to print documents in the Sejm or given to schools or preschools for art activities.

Using the paper in this way could benefit everyone while minimizing the losses resulting from expenditure on preparing the presidential election of 18 May 2020.

Yours sincerely

Robert Obaz

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