Become an observer

We are looking for observers for the 2023 parliamentary elections!

As election experts and experienced election observers, we aim to ensure that the upcoming elections are fair, inclusive, and direct, and that voting takes place in a secret manner. Our role as observers is to verify that the elections are held in accordance with Polish law and meet international standards. 

Join us and observe the voting together! We are looking for volunteers to go with us to PECs in Poland and abroad in October!

An observer's working day looks as follows:

  • from 6:00 to 7:30 - observe the process of opening the polling station and the first 30 minutes of voting
  • from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. - observation of voting at 5-8 polling stations (30 minutes each) - the schedule is set by the observer
  • from 20:30 until the end of counting - observation of the last 30 minutes of voting and closing of the polling station and counting of votes

To become an observer you need to:

  • complete the form below (2 minutes)
  • complete the online course for social observers at (approx. 3 hours)

Complete the form!

Take a course!

What is a civic election observation?

The role of a social observer is similar to that of a shop steward, the difference being that social observers are not delegated to election commissions by political parties or election committees, but by associations and foundations registered in Poland whose statutory objectives include concern for democracy, civil rights and the development of civil society. 

The Election Code regulates the rights and duties of social observers in quite a detailed manner:

  • the observer has the right to be present during all the activities of the committee in which he/she is conducting the observation (103b. § 1);
  • the observer has the right to be present at the polling station during the voting process "during the preparation for voting, voting, determination of voting results and preparation of the minutes";
  • an observer has the right to be present "during the verification of the correctness of the determination of the voting results and the entering of the data into the electronic data transmission network";
  • the observer has the right to be present "at the transmission of the minutes by the PEC, the transmission of the data of the minutes by the district electoral commission, the checking for arithmetical correctness of the determination of the results of the vote by the proxies referred to in Article 173";
  • the observer has the right to record the actions of the commission before the opening of the polling stations, during the voting and during the determination of the voting results;
  • the observer has the right to ask for signed copies of the handover report and the results reports of the observed polling station;
  • the observer must submit to the electoral commission concerned a certificate issued by the association or foundation delegating him or her to observe the elections. 

Unlike party and candidates proxy, an observer may not:

  • make comments on the committee's protocol;
  • be present when the protocol is transported and forwarded to the competent higher-level electoral commission.

In turn, the 'Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Civil Society Organisations', adopted at the UN, sets out the rules and values that should guide a civil society observer. Below you will find 10 principles adapted to the Polish reality:

  1. Remain impartial in all activities you perform as an election observer or observer trainer, regardless of your political preference. Remain apolitical and do not associate yourself with political parties, candidates or parties involved in elections.
  2. Work for the improvement of the electoral process and the implementation of best electoral practices, but do not associate yourself with electoral administration, government or local authorities.
  3. Present a high level of personal culture in your dealings with all participants in the electoral process, regardless of their behaviour. Absolutely renounce violence and aggression.
  4. Respect the law, especially the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. Act in accordance with the law in force and encourage other participants in the electoral process to do the same.
  5. Respect the electoral administration bodies and do not, under any circumstances, unlawfully interfere with their activities.
  6. Help defend the right of voters to express their will in the electoral act.
  7. Help defend, with particular attention to maintaining impartiality, the equal rights of all election candidates.
  8. Cooperate with other community observers who act in accordance with the principles set out by the Declaration and with international observers.
  9. When reporting on the situation at the polling station, act impartially and promptly, doing your best when describing the facts (positive and negative).
  10. Improve your skills through training on the electoral process and on how to observe elections. If you are organising an election observation exercise, ensure that all observers know the purpose of the observation and the rules of the exercise. Be well versed in the provisions of the Election Code and the resolutions of the State Election Commission.

Why do we observe elections?

Obserwujemy wybory w Polsce, gdyż chcemy, aby były one zgodne z konstytucyjnymi wartościami: uczciwe, transparentne i równe, a głosowanie - tajne. Wybory to święto demokracji i zależy nam, by odbywały się w atmosferze wzajemnego szacunku i powagi. Chcemy mieć wpływ na kształtowanie społeczeństwa obywatelskiego oraz na poprawę procesu wyborczego. W trakcie monitoringu wyborczego realizujemy nasze działania w oparciu o najwyższe standardy wynikające z międzynarodowych deklaracji obserwatorów społecznych. Wszystkim chętnym sprawdzenia, co to oznacza i jak przekłada się na efekty obserwacji, polecamy lekturę raportu z obserwacji wyborów prezydenckich 2020r. oraz wyborów samorządowych na Mazowszu w 2018 r.  

We observe elections in Poland because we want them to be in line with constitutional values: fair, transparent and equal, and done in a secret manner. Elections are a celebration of democracy and we want them to take place in an atmosphere of mutual respect and seriousness. We want to have a say in shaping civil society and improving the electoral process. During election monitoring, we carry out our activities on the basis of the highest standards arising from the international declarations of social observers. For all those willing to see what this means and how it translates into observational results, we recommend reading the report on the observation of the 2020 presidential election and the 2018 local elections in Mazovia.