Background
The referendums were ordered by President Bronisław Komorowski, who had promised to hold a referendum on the electoral system after the first round of the presidential elections, [5] Although he had been leading in the polls, Komorowski received fewer votes (33.77%) than his main opponent Andrzej Duda (34.76%) in the first round, and then lost to Andrzej Duda in II round 48.5% to 51.5%. [6] However third-placed candidate Paweł Kukiz received 20.8% of the vote, campaigning on introducing single-member constituencies for Sejm elections. [7] A day after the May elections, Komorowski made an instantaneous decision to hold the referendum. Justifying his initiative, he explained that he saw high support for Kukiz as a signal that voters wanted changes. [8]
Referendum
On May 21, 57 senators present voted in favor of holding the referendum. However, 43 senators did not participate in the vote, the largest group among them being representatives of the Law and Justice party (PiS). [9]
The Law and Justice party, followed later by KORWiN, as well as Zjednoczona Lewica called for the inclusion of additional questions in the referendum. [10] [11] [12]
On August 21, President Andrzej Duda submitted to the Senate a draft decree scheduling an additional referendum for October 25 (the date of parliamentary elections). This referendum was to cover issues including the retirement age, the operation of state forests, and the compulsory schooling of six-year-olds. [13] Polish Senate (incl. PO and PSL senators) rejected that proporsal. [14]
A total of 133 entities were registered as eligible to conduct campaign activities, including 94 associations, 34 foundations, and 5 political parties. Additionally, 24 organizations were classified as ineligible. [15]
Total cost of the referendum was 71,575,097 PLN (€16,8 M.). [16]
Results
Due to the fact that voter turnout did not exceed half of those eligible to vote, in accordance with Article 125, paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, the result of the referendum was not binding. [17] [3]
In November 2015, the Supreme Court confirmed the validity of the referendum. However, the voting in one of the districts in Siemianowice Śląskie was invalidated due to mixing up the answers "yes" and "no" on the third question. [18] [19] Later, the National Electoral Commission (PKW) corrected the results. [20]
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/
blank | Total | Registered
voters | Turnout | Outcome |
|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % |
|---|
| Single-member constituencies | 1,829,995 | 78.75 | 493,935 | 21.25 | 59,111 | 2,383,041 | 30,565,826 | 7.80 | Failed to meet quorum |
| Maintaining state financing of political parties | 404,515 | 17.37 | 1,923,994 | 82.63 | 54,532 | Failed to meet quorum |
| Tax law interpretation | 2,194,689 | 94.51 | 127,395 | 5.49 | 60,957 | Failed to meet quorum |
| Source: National Electoral Commission |
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