Presidential elections. Last day to file protests

Monday is the last day to file protests against the election of the President of the Republic of Poland in the Supreme Court. Protests can be filed directly at the Supreme Court building during working hours from 8:00 to 16:00 or sent via Polish Post.

On June 2, the National Electoral Commission announced the results of the second round of the presidential elections - it reported that Karol Nawrocki received 50.89 percent of the votes and was elected president, while Rafał Trzaskowski received 49.11 percent of the votes.

"In connection with the above, a 14-day period has opened within which a protest against the election of the President of the Republic of Poland may be filed with the Supreme Court (Article 321 of the Electoral Code)" - informed the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court building in Warsaw at Krasiński Square is a designated protest submission point . A protest can also be sent at a Polish post office of the operator designated in the meaning of the Postal Law. By decision of the President of the Office of Electronic Communications, the designated operator for the years 2016-2025 is Poczta Polska.

"A protest sent to another operator must reach the Supreme Court before the deadline for its submission, therefore sending a protest, for example by courier, does not guarantee that the deadline for its submission will be met," the Supreme Court reserves.

SEE: "Red corals in the commission". The first election protests have been filed with the Supreme Court

According to the Electoral Code, "a protest against the election of the President of the Republic of Poland shall be filed in writing with the Supreme Court no later than 14 days from the date on which the National Electoral Commission announces the election results."

As the code states, sending a protest via Poczta Polska within this period is equivalent to filing it with the Supreme Court. This means that Monday, June 16 is the last day to file such a protest.

An election protest can only be filed in writing. Other forms, such as fax, e-mail or ePUAP, are inadmissible. It can be filed directly with the Supreme Court or sent to a Polish post office.

If the voter is abroad or on a Polish sea vessel, the protest may be entrusted to the territorially competent consul or the captain of the ship. However, he must attach to it a notification of the appointment of his proxy residing in the country or a proxy for service residing in the country.

SEE: It is known how many election protests have been filed with the Supreme Court. "More are still being filed"

If a protest is to be considered on its merits by the Supreme Court , it cannot contain any formal deficiencies - it must meet the requirements specified in the Electoral Code and the general conditions of a procedural document.

Detailed requirements relating to election protests are contained on the Supreme Court website.

As reported on Friday afternoon by the Supreme Court press team , 434 protests against the presidential election have been received so far.

The Supreme Court hears protests in a three-judge panel, in non-contentious proceedings. "If, during the hearing of the protest, it is necessary to conduct an evidentiary hearing , a decision is issued to admit and hear evidence, e.g. from witness statements or inspection of ballot papers," the Supreme Court reported.

As reported, the election protests that have been submitted to the Supreme Court so far raise, among other things , irregularities in the preparation of voting records and during the counting of votes in some electoral commissions.

SEE: Several hundred election protests filed. New announcement from the Supreme Court

On Thursday, it was reported that the Supreme Court ordered an inspection of the ballots, or de facto a recount of the votes, from 13 district electoral commissions. The Supreme Court decided to conduct this evidence "through judicial assistance through the competent district courts."

After considering the protest , the Supreme Court may leave it without further action . This means that the protest cannot be considered on its merits for formal reasons.

If the protest is considered on its merits, the Supreme Court may express an opinion that the protest is unfounded or that it is justified. "In the event of expressing an opinion on the validity of the protest allegations, the Supreme Court shall indicate whether the irregularities found had an impact on the election result," the Supreme Court informed.

After considering all the election protests, based on the election report presented by the National Electoral Commission, the Supreme Court decides on the validity of the election of the President of the Republic of Poland - it must do so within 30 days of the announcement of the election results to the public. This means that the last day by which this decision must be made will be July 2 this year.