Polish MPs back postal voting for all

Poland’s lower house of parliament on Friday approved legislation to allow all voters to cast their ballots by mail, expanding access to postal voting ahead of future elections.

The lower house of Poland's parliament, the Sejm, in session in Warsaw on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.

Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The amendment to the country’s electoral law, proposed by the ruling Civic Platform (PO) party, passed the lower house by a vote of 243 to 198, with no abstentions.

Ustawa wprowadza możliwość głosowania korespondencyjnego dla wszystkich wyborców. Wyjątkiem będą wybory samorządowe - w nich w ten sposób głos będą mogli oddać tylko wyborcy niepełnosprawni o znacznym lub umiarkowanym stopniu niepełnosprawności oraz ci, który najpóźniej w dniu… pic.twitter.com/MKYKZZoE5A

— Sejm RP🇵🇱 (@KancelariaSejmu) October 17, 2025

The bill now goes to the Senate, the upper house, for debate.

Barbara Dolniak, a Civic Coalition lawmaker and rapporteur for the parliamentary committee on legal reform, said the change ensures the “universality and equality of participation in elections.”

Fellow Civic Coalition member Mariusz Witczak said the bill would make it easier for citizens to take part in voting.

Lawmakers from the conservative opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party voted against the measure, state news agency PAP reported.

Under the legislation, postal voting would be available to all eligible voters but remain voluntary.

It would not apply to local council or mayoral elections, except for voters with significant or moderate disabilities, who would still be allowed to vote by mail.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP