How to recognize a properly prepared voting card? Find out what to look for to make sure that your voice will be important.
How to check that the voting card is correct
The 2025 presidential election in Poland is a hot topic, especially since the second round will take place on June 1. The turnout in the first round broke the record. 67.31 percent The entitled went to the urns, which is the best result since 1990. Today we will focus on something that can affect the validity of your voice – on the voting card.
What is the voting card?
The voting card is of course the document that you get at the polling station. In the presidential election 2025, in the second round, there will be a list of two candidates. The names will be arranged alphabetically. Next to each of them there will be a grille in which you put the “X” to vote.
The card is one -page – printed only on one side. At the top you will find information that this is a card for the presidential election and date – June 1, 2025. At the bottom there is an instructions on how to vote properly, and this is where the key details are hidden. However, before we get to how to vote, make sure that the card itself is fine.
A cut corner on the electoral card – what’s going on?
Let’s start with what raises the most emotions – cut upper right corner. In the first round of elections in Tarnów, the voters were so surprised by this detail that they called the police, thinking that it was forgery. The National Electoral Commission (PKW) explained that this is not a scam, but to make it easier for the blind. Thanks to it, they can correctly arrange a card with an overlay in Braille’s alphabet. So if you get a card with the upper right corner cut – everything is playing. This is a standard in our country.
Here, however, an important note. If the corner is cut in another place, for example in the lower right, as it happened in one of the committees in Ostrołęka, or there is no at all – report it immediately. PKW claims that such cards can still be considered important, if they are not torn or cut, but it is better to blow cold.
Abroad, the cards look a little different – they do not have a cut corner, because there Braille overlays are not used. So if you vote in the consulate, don’t be surprised that the card is “whole”.
Stamps on the voting card
Another thing that you need to pay attention to are stamps. The correct card in Poland must have two: one printed, belonging to the PKW, usually in the lower right corner, and the other, imprinted by the regional election commission, often on the left. Lack of any of them should alert you. Such a card is invalid, even if you put “X” correctly.
The PKW emphasizes that the seal of the precinct commission can be in different colors – red, blue, green, depending on the ink used by the Commission. So there is nothing to panic if the stamp is not red. It is important that it is. If you get a card without a peripheral seal, don’t go to the cab with it – report it immediately. You will get a new, properly stamped.
Instead of the PKW seal, abroad will be the seal of the Consular Office, but the rule is the same – there must also be a seal of the peripheral commission. Without it, your voice will not be counted.
How to cast an important voice?
Since you can be sure that the card is ok, time for voting. In order for your voice to be valid, you must put the “X” in the grid next to the name of one candidate – and only one. “X” are two lines cutting within the grille.
If:
- you will mark the grilles at both candidates,
- You will not put any “x”,
- You will put “X” outside the grille,
- Or you will use a different character, e.g. wheels or lines …
… your voice will be invalid!
Interesting fact: all notes, drawings or vulgar comments on the card do not affect its validity if “X” is correctly placed. So you can write what you think about candidates, but don’t count that this will change something.
What else is worth knowing?
When you get the card, check it immediately before you sign the voter list. If something is wrong – no seal, the corner cut not here – tell about this committee. Do not take the card to the cabin, if you have doubts, because then there may be a problem with replacement. PKW clearly says: only one card for voter!
If you have any doubts, look at the PKW website or watch their instructional videos on YouTube. There you will find a thorough explanation of what the card should look like and how to cast an important voice.
