| Parliament name |
- |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Sejm |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senat / Senate
|
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
12 April 2001
Last amended on 3 March 2011 |
| Mode of designation |
directly elected 460 |
| Constituencies |
41 multi-member (7-19 seats) constituencies, a total of 460 seats. |
| Voting system |
Proportional:
- All 460 members are elected by proportional representation, distribution of seats being effected on the basis of the modified Saint-Lague method; parties win seats according to the aggregate vote for their candidates in a constituency, and then allocate them to those with highest totals.
- At least 35 per cent of candidates on party lists must be women and another 35 per cent men.
- There are thresholds for participation in allocation of seats: 5% of the total votes cast for party list; 8% for a coalition list. National minorities' lists are exempt from thresholds requirements.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by the individual who is "next-in-line" on the list of the party which formerly held the seat.
Voting is not compulsory. |
| Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years
- Polish citizenship
- disqualifications: mental deficiency, deprivation of civil or electoral rights by court ruling |
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
Qualified electors
- age: 21 years
- Polish citizenship
- permanent residence in the country for not less than five years
|
| Incompatibilities |
- President of the National Bank of Poland, of the Supreme Chamber of Control, the Commissioner for Citizens' Rights, the Commissioner for Childrens' Rights or their assistants
- members of the Council for Monetary Policy, of the National Council of Radio Broadcasting and Television
- ambassadors
- employment in the chancelleries of the Diet, Senate or President of the Republic
- employment in government administration (except members of the Council of Ministers and Secretaries of State); employment in local government administration
- judges, public prosecutors
- civil servants
- soldiers on active duty, police or State protection forces
- elected members of local government |
| Candidacy requirements |
- endorsed by electors and political parties, which may set up national or local electoral committees for this purpose
- lists of district constituency candidates must be submitted no later than 40 days prior to the polling date and be supported by at least 5,000 electors resident in the constituency concerned
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
