2023 Polish referendum

2023 Polish referendum
15 October 2023 (2023-10-15)
Voting systemMajority vote
WebsiteOfficial website
1. Do you support the selling off of state assets to foreign entities, leading to the loss of Poles' control over strategic sectors of the economy?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 394,704 3.51%
No 10,857,496 96.49%
Valid votes 11,252,200 93.13%
Invalid or blank votes 830,388 6.87%
Total votes 12,082,588 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 29,532,595 40.91%
2. Do you support an increase in the retirement age, including the restoration of the increased retirement age to 67 for men and women?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 608,254 5.39%
No 10,675,211 94.61%
Valid votes 11,283,465 93.39%
Invalid or blank votes 799,123 6.61%
Total votes 12,082,588 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 29,532,595 40.91%
3. Do you support the removal of the barrier on the border between Poland and Belarus?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 445,270 3.96%
No 10,808,410 96.04%
Valid votes 11,253,680 93.14%
Invalid or blank votes 828,908 6.86%
Total votes 12,082,588 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 29,532,595 40.91%
4. Do you support the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, in accordance with the forced relocation mechanism imposed by the European bureaucracy?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 360,803 3.21%
No 10,878,863 96.79%
Valid votes 11,239,666 93.02%
Invalid or blank votes 842,922 6.98%
Total votes 12,082,588 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 29,532,595 40.91%
Source: National Electoral Commission

A referendum was held in Poland on 15 October 2023, taking place alongside the nationwide elections to the Senate and Sejm.[1][2]

Four questions had been announced by members of the government from 11 to 14 August. Voters were asked whether they approve of the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, an increase in the retirement age, the admission of immigrants under the EU relocation mechanism, and the removal of the barrier on Poland's border with Belarus.[3][4][5] The referendum was boycotted by the main opposition parties resulting in a turnout of only 40%[6] (compared to more than 70% for the election[7]). As a result of not exceeding the minimum validity threshold of 50% turnout, the results were not legally binding, making the referendum an example of a successful no-show strategy.

  1. ^ "Poland to vote in privatisation referendum, likely alongside October election". Reuters. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Connolly, Kate (2023-08-13). "Polish prime minister to hold referendum on EU's immigration plan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  4. ^ "Poland unveils referendum on EU migrant policy – DW – 08/13/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Frekwencja w Referendum ogólnokrajowym 2023 r." referendum.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Frekwencja w wyborach do Sejmu w 2023 r." wybory.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 October 2023.