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In the aftermath of the recent elections in Poland, Sylwester Marciniak, the head of the State Electoral Commission, expressed his gratitude to the voters for what is likely to be the highest voter turnout in the history of the Third Polish Republic. He also commended the overall peaceful conduct of the elections.
Record-Breaking Turnout
Marciniak pointed out that the voter turnout during this election had the potential to set a new record. The previous highest turnout was recorded during the 1989 parliamentary elections, at 62.7 percent. The recent elections came remarkably close to that figure, with a turnout of 61.7 percent in 2019. The second-highest turnout in Poland’s history occurred during the 1995 presidential runoff, with 68.23 percent of eligible voters participating. In the 2020 presidential election, 68.18 percent of voters cast their ballots.
While the elections ran smoothly, Marciniak did mention a few incidents. There were 101 cases of election-related crimes, with 43 incidents involving the destruction of electoral documents. Seventeen instances of voter card theft were also reported. In total, 373 infractions were recorded throughout the election process.
Exit Polls vs. Official Data
Notably, the data from Ipsos, responsible for conducting exit polls, suggests a higher turnout of 72.9 percent, while the official figures report a turnout of 57.54 percent up to 5:00 PM.
Despite some isolated incidents, the 2023 elections in Poland showcased impressive civic participation and are poised to make history with their high voter turnout. The nation eagerly awaits the final official results and the impact this engagement will have on the political landscape.