In a ruling dated 11 June, the court allowed the inspection and re-evaluation of voting cards from selected districts, citing the need to verify the number of valid votes cast for each candidate in specific locations. The announcement was made on the court’s official website earlier today.
The court confirmed that it had accepted evidence of alleged anomalies presented in several protests. As a result, the following precincts will undergo a recount:
Precinct 95 in Kraków
Precinct 3 in Olesno
Precinct 13 in Mińsk Mazowiecki
Precinct 9 in Strzelce Opolskie
Precinct 25 in Grudziądz
Precinct 17 in Gdańsk
Precincts 30 and 61 in Bielsko-Biała
Precinct 10 in Tarnów
Precinct 53 in Katowice
Precinct 35 in Tychy
Precinct 6 in Kamienna Góra
Precinct 4 in Brześć Kujawski
The decision follows reports of irregularities in the tabulation of votes in several locations. The most widely reported incident occurred in precinct 13 in Mińsk Mazowiecki, where votes cast for the two presidential candidates were incorrectly attributed. According to local authorities, the head of the commission acknowledged an error, which is now under review and may be referred to the public prosecutor. A similar case was previously identified in precinct 95 in Kraków, where vote tallies were reversed, affecting the reported result in favour Karol Nawrocki.
Despite the identified discrepancies, electoral authorities have stated that these errors do not affect the overall outcome of the election. According to official results published by the National Electoral Commission (PKW), Karol Nawrocki secured election with 10,606,877 votes, ahead of Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 10,237,286 – a margin of 369,591 votes.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court deemed the complaints in these specific districts credible enough to warrant judicial intervention. The recounts will be conducted with the assistance of competent regional courts in accordance with the principle of judicial cooperation.
A statement released by the court clarified that the purpose of the recount is to determine the number of valid votes cast for each candidate in the relevant precincts. While the number of affected districts is limited, the court’s decision reflects a broader concern about the integrity of the vote counting process and the obligation to examine claims of procedural anomalies thoroughly.
Polish media outlets have reported a growing number of localised vote count anomalies since the conclusion of the second round. While the number of districts involved remains small relative to the national total, the credibility of election administration has come under renewed scrutiny. The PKW convened a special session earlier this week in response to mounting public interest and media coverage of the alleged irregularities.
Legal observers note that the Supreme Court’s decision aligns with its constitutional responsibility to adjudicate electoral complaints and ensure the transparency of the democratic process. However, it is considered unlikely that the recounts will significantly alter the national result given the substantial margin between the candidates.
Opposition figures have called for a broader investigation into the conduct of election officials in the affected areas. Trzaskowski’s campaign has not formally contested the overall outcome but has expressed concern over what it describes as a pattern of “avoidable procedural errors” that, while not decisive nationally, may have compromised local trust in the process.
The coming days will see regional courts supervise the physical recounts, with final findings expected to be submitted to the Supreme Court for certification. Should discrepancies emerge, further legal or disciplinary measures may be pursued at the discretion of the relevant electoral and judicial bodies.
The recount process will take place under heightened scrutiny, both domestically and from international observers monitoring democratic standards in Central Europe. While the Polish presidential election result stands, the episode has reignited debate over electoral integrity and the need for improved safeguards within local voting commissions.
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