Published on April 5, 2024
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At midnight, election silence began and will last until the end of voting on Sunday. Violating it may result in a fine of up to PLN 1 million. It is prohibited to publish polls or campaign for specific candidates and lists. The ban also applies on the Internet.
The local elections will be held on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The election silence began on Friday at midnight and will last until its end. If none of the district electoral commissions extends the voting, it will end at 9 p.m.
Voting may be extended as a result of extraordinary events, e.g. flooding, flooding of a polling station, construction or transport disaster or the need to print additional ballots. These are obstacles that hinder or paralyze the work of the district electoral commission and exclude or seriously limit voters’ access to the polling station.
Electoral silence is violated by any element of active electioneering, i.e. public persuasion or encouragement to vote in a specific way. During the election silence, it is prohibited to convene assemblies, organize marches and demonstrations, deliver speeches or distribute election materials. Posters put up before the silence does not have to be torn down. However, you are not allowed to drive vehicles covered with election posters; however, a vehicle covered with election posters can be parked. You are also not allowed to agitate on the Internet.
Agitation at the polling station is also prohibited, including: by displaying symbols, signs and inscriptions associated with candidates and election committees.
Violating the ban on electioneering is punishable by a fine. The highest fine – from PLN 500,000 to one million – is imposed for publishing polls during the election silence. This includes both pre-election surveys regarding expected voter behavior and election results, as well as surveys conducted on voting day.
The National Electoral Commission emphasizes that only law enforcement agencies and courts can decide whether something constitutes a violation of the ban on electioneering. A voter who believes that the electoral silence has been violated should report it directly to the police or the prosecutor’s office.
Editor: A. Niebojewska/B. Świerkowska-Chromy for PAP
