Presidential Election, 18 May 2025
Type:
Country:
Mission at a glance
Head of Mission: Dunja Mijatović
12 core team experts from 9 participating States, based in Warsaw
16 long-term observers deployed throughout the country
Mission schedule
10 April: Arrival of the core team
17 April: Arrival of long-term observers
18 April: Briefing of long-term observers
19 April: Deployment of long-term observers throughout the country
18 May: Election day
19 May: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
1 June: Election day (second round)
2 June: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
7 June: Departure of long-term observers
10 June: Core team departure
Following an invitation to observe the 18 May presidential election in Poland, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission, and in accordance with its mandate, ODIHR has deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) for this election.
Long-term Observation
The mission is led by Dunja Mijatović and consists of a core team of 12 experts based in Warsaw. In addition, 16 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 19 April.
The mission will assess whether the election is held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.
Observers will closely follow fundamental components of the election such as:
- Election-related legislation and its implementation
- Voter registration
- Candidate registration
- Campaign environment and activities, including online
- Campaign finance, including its regulation, transparency and accountability
- The work of the election administration and other relevant bodies
- Media environment and media coverage of the election
- The resolution of election-related disputes
The observers will also assess how prior ODIHR election-related recommendations have been considered. The ODIHR LEOM will conduct qualitative and quantitative monitoring of media coverage of the election campaign, including on social networks.
Election Day
For election day itself, a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will join efforts with the ODIHR mission. The day after the election, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued some months after the end of the election process.
Previous Elections
ODIHR has observed six previous elections in Poland, most recently the 2023 parliamentary elections.