Another parliamentary election is ahead of us. If you are going to vote abroad with the intention of casting a valid ballot, we have some good advice for you: check whether your identity card is valid and whether its expiry date has passed. There is no such problem in Poland; an expired document can be used.
Elections in Poland
Before issuing ballot papers, the commission verifies the voter’s identity on the basis of an identity card or any other document with a photograph, provided that establishing the voter’s identity on its basis raises no doubts (Article 52 § 1 of the Electoral Code). A voter may therefore present the commission with any document bearing a photograph (e.g. a passport, driving licence or student ID), including a document that has expired, provided that establishing their identity on its basis raises no doubts.
The commission may also confirm a voter’s identity using the mObywatel application. Elements confirming that the data displayed on the device screen are reliable, secure and up to date include: a) at the top, in the centre, below the words “mDowód”, there should be the current, constantly changing time and the current date; b) on the left, below the photograph, there should be a waving, not static, flag of the Republic of Poland; c) below the waving flag, a hologram showing the emblem of the Republic of Poland, with changing colour intensity. If the document shown on a smartphone raises no doubts, there is no need to take any further steps to verify its authenticity.
Elections abroad
Before issuing ballot papers, the commission verifies the voter’s identity on the basis of a valid Polish passport. Only in the territory of European Union countries and countries that can be entered using a Polish identity card, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, may a Polish citizen present the commission with a valid Polish identity card (Article 52 § 3 of the Electoral Code). The commission also determines whether the voter is entitled to vote in that precinct by checking whether their name is included in the electoral register.