Penalty for breaking the electoral silence

Breaking the electoral silence is punishable by severe penalties, which specified in the Electoral Code (Article 498 of the Electoral Code) and their amount can be found in in the Code of Petty Offences (Article 24). A person who breaks the silence must expect a fine up to one million zlotys, as well as a prison sentence of up to two years.

What does the electoral silence forbid?

During the electoral silence, you can't agitate. It is also forbidden to:

- convening assemblies, marches and demonstrations

-distributing leaflets

-giving speeches

- hanging advertisements on cars

- publishing election polls

Electoral silence on the Internet

In the virtual world, there is also silence before the elections. Be careful to what we write, especially on social media.

And what about the materials posted before the silence?

Election materials posted before the end of the election campaign do not have to be deleted. However, they must not be modified or moved, as this may be considered as active electoral campaigning.

The National Electoral Commission reminds that that the violation of the ban on electoral agitation during the period of silence electoral campaign is an offence, and making the results of polls available to the public, electoral behaviour and the expected results of the election – a crime.

All cases of violation of the electoral silence should be reported to the Police.

Source: National Electoral Commission