Are you on sick leave and want to vote? Expert warns

The approaching second round of the presidential election is stirring up huge emotions. The campaign has ended and the election silence is in place before Sunday's vote. The focus is not only on the issue of election programs, but also on turnout. More and more voters are asking: what about people on sick leave?

Participating in elections is one of the basic civil rights, so it is worth knowing how to reconcile voting with being on sick leave to avoid potential consequences. The legal system is governed by the principle of "ignorantia iuris nocet" - ignorance of the law is harmful. This means that one cannot invoke a lack of knowledge of the regulations.

The question seems simple: can you vote for L4? The answer turns out to be much more complex.

According to the current regulations (Act of 25 June 1999), sick leave does not deprive a citizen of the right to vote . A person with sick leave is still listed on the electoral roll and can take part in the vote.

SEE: "Election Night: Poland Chooses. Presidential Elections 2025" on Polsat and Polsat Group channels

However, the nature of the exemption and the possibility of moving are questionable. ZUS has intensified its checks in recent years, and any departure from the place of residence indicated on the sick leave certificate may arouse the interest of officials.

According to the opinion of Mikołaj Zając, an expert quoted by the Interia portal, taking part in the elections itself does not have to be a problem, as long as it does not conflict with the purpose of the sick leave and medical recommendations.

If there are no contraindications to leaving home and the leave is of a stationary nature, participation in voting should not constitute a violation. What is important is whether participation in voting does not negatively affect the treatment process .

Although voting is an important civic act, ZUS has the right to conduct an audit and question the actions of a person on sick leave if it considers them to be inconsistent with the purpose of the sick leave. An example would be a situation where a person with serious orthopedic problems goes to a distant polling station. In such a case, even with good will, it may be considered that convalescence has been interrupted.

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There are several ways to vote without leaving home. One of them is to apply for a postal vote , which must be submitted well in advance. You can also use the institution of a proxy, provided that certain conditions are met, e.g. in the case of significant disability.

From the perspective of electoral law, there are no contraindications for a person on sick leave to vote. It looks different from the perspective of ZUS regulations. These issues are regulated, among others, by the act on cash benefits from social insurance in the event of illness and maternity. In the event of absence from the place indicated on the sick leave or undertaking activity deemed incompatible with the purpose of L4, ZUS may request the insured person to provide an explanation .