Where to find information regarding candidates? How to check the address of a polling station? Who is entitled to free transport? What should you take with you and how to cast a valid vote? We explain everything you need to know before Sunday’s local elections.
Local elections are on April 7. Poles will then elect members of commune councils, county councils and provincial assemblies, as well as commune heads, mayors and city presidents. Where the vote on the election of commune heads, mayors and city presidents is inconclusive, a second round of voting will be held on April 21. What should you know before voting?
Where to find information regarding candidates?
Basic information regarding candidates can be found on the PKW website. You need to go to the “candidates” tab, select the place where you will vote, and then change the default sorting option “all elections” to the option you are interested in, e.g. “mayor, mayor, president of the city”. Then, information regarding the age, place of residence, number on the list and committee of all people applying for the office of commune mayor will be displayed.
To find out more regarding a person, you need to look for information on your own. It is worth checking the candidate’s social media and local media reports regarding him. If the candidate has already held an office, it is also worth checking the official websites of local authorities.
SEE ALSO: Local elections 2024. Who do we choose in the vote?
How to check where to vote?
The easiest way to check where you should go to vote during local government elections is to use the mObywatel application or website. In the case of the application, following logging in, simply go to the “elections” tab, then click “next” and select the window regarding local government elections. Then both the name of the polling station and its address will be displayed.
People using the website www.mobywatel.gov.plfollowing logging in, they must select the “Your data” tab and click on “Central Register of Voters”.
Who is entitled to free transport to the polling station?
The right to free transport to and from the polling station is granted to persons with severe or moderate disabilities and to those who are 60 years old on the day of voting at the latest. Providing this transport is the responsibility of the mayor of a commune where there is no commune passenger transport on election day. Under it, voters are collected from their place of permanent residence.
The deadline for registering your intention to exercise your right to transport for the April 7 elections was March 25. In the case of voting in the second round of elections, if it was not reported before the first round, the deadline for registering the desire to use free transport will expire on April 16.
Voters from municipalities where there is no public transport on election day or where the stop is more than 1.5 km away from the polling station are also entitled to free transport to the elections. However, voters are not picked up from their place of residence. Instead, a special transport line is organized.
SEE ALSO: Voting outside the place of residence. “Last safe date” for submitting an application
What to take to the elections?
To take part in local government elections, you must go to the polling station with a document confirming your identity. It must be a document with a photo. However, it does not necessarily have to be an identity document. You can also take your passport, student ID or e.g. driving license with you. You can also confirm your identity using the mObywatel application.
How many ballots will you receive?
How many ballots a voter receives depends on where he or she lives. In the first round, most voters will receive four cards. Residents of cities with county rights, where no county council is elected, will receive one card less. The exception is Warsaw, where – even though the district council is not elected – voters will still receive four cards. In addition to the city mayor, the city council and the provincial assembly, they will also elect district councilors.
Importantly, each card must bear the seals of the district electoral commission and the territorial electoral commission.
SEE ALSO: Local elections 2024. What do the ballots look like?
How to cast a valid vote in the elections?
To cast an important vote, On each card received, you should put an “X” in the box next to the name of only one candidate. Failure to put an “X” or a sign other than “X” will result in an invalid vote. All marks and strikethroughs will be treated as additions that do not affect the validity of the vote.
Source of the main photo: Leszek Szymański/PAP
