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Poles vote in local government elections

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 21.10.2018 07:10
Poles on Sunday headed to the ballot box as local government elections were held across the country.
Image: Clker-Free-Vector-Images/pixabay.com/CC0 Creative Commons

Voters were to select nearly 47,000 aldermen and 2,500 mayors and other local officials.

Polling stations opened at 7am and were due to close at 9pm.

Judge Wiesław Błuś, a member of the State Electoral Commission, said police had noted 385 reports of incidents such as disturbing the peace and public order, conducting political campaigning despite a ban on such activity immediately before and during the ballot, and damaging or removing electoral campaign material.

"These are not events that have had a decisive impact on the course of the elections,” he added.

A temporary media blackout came into force in Poland on Friday at midnight under which anyone publishing opinion polls showing the level of support for election candidates faces a fine of up to PLN 1 million (EUR 233,000, USD 268,000).

The ban lasts until polling officially closes. Political campaigning is also forbidden during this period.

Around 30 million Poles are entitled to cast their ballot in the local government elections, state news agency PAP has reported.

Turnout at 5pm on Sunday stood at 41.65 percent, officials said.

A second round of voting, where needed, will be held on November 4.

(pk)

Source: Polish Radio

tags: politics
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