Unprecedented Youth Turnout Overthrows Incumbent Party in Polish Election

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In the frigid midnight hours on a Monday, Szymon Szumniak, an entertainment blogger, ventured into Wroclaw Polling Station No 148 to finally place his vote, after a gruelling six-hour wait in line. Szumniak became one part of a swelling crowd that spanned hundreds, waiting their turn even long past the poll’s official closing time.

This extensive line-up evolved into a representative emblem of Poland’s parliamentary election, wherein an unprecedented voter turnout exceeding 74% worked to overthrow the incumbent right-wing party, Law and Justice party, better known as the PiS.


Whilst enduring the bitter cold, the 26-year-old recount vividly the incredible hospitality shown onwards to people in line, “People gave us blankets, hot tea, cookies. The hospitality of residents in that area was amazing!” Unabating pizza deliveries and soulful renditions by local women, peppered his arduous wait, making it a stirring experience.

The significance of that act was not lost on Szumniak, who judiciously noted, “We’re building our future and I think a lot of young people understood that.” Despite the tortuous weather, he stood firm in his resolve to vote. He reflects on his chosen candidate with a sense of gratification, but chose to keep it confidential.

Polling Station 148 saw its final vote cast by another, Michal Wittenbeck, who documented the long night with a timestamped photo on social media. Undeniably, a change was stirring in the political horizons, and the youth vote played an influential role in heralding this transformation.

Per official estimates, nearly 69% of voters under the age of 29 exercised their right to vote, marking a considerable surge from the mere 46.4% at the last parliamentary election in 2019. Interestingly, the youth electorate even outnumbered the traditionally dominant over-60s.

This wave of youthful energy was palpable in Wroclaw’s modern suburb of Jagodno, yielding a 43.6% victory to the opposition Civic Coalition, in contrast to the mere 5.9% to the PiS. The political discourse had amplified concerns about the preservation of democracy, which resonated more soundly with the younger voting populace.

On ballot counting day, the streets were abuzz with anticipation. Youthful voters nervously scouring their phones for constant updates, their relief and jubilation upon realising that the incumbent PiS was losing its parliamentary majority was poignant.

The active participation extended beyond the country’s borders as turnout in overseas ballots also surged. Strategic voting gained traction as part of the #WarsawTrip campaign, encouraging transfer of registration from metropolitan cities to smaller towns, thereby maximising the impact of their vote under the complex Polish electoral system.

Gendered political narratives surrounding the near-ban on abortion precipitated large scale street protests in 2020 and gave women a strong voice in political participation. A heightened turnout among women voters was a testament to the palpable desire for change.

With the PiS’s attempt at forming a government seeming highly unlikely, opposition parties are now recollecting themselves for the challenges upon the horizon. Prominent issues like abortion rights remain at the centre of the impending legislative changes as the potential new government attempts to recapture the faith of the masses.

Amidst this backdrop of political rejuvenation, led by a committed and dedicated electorate ready to chart its own destiny, Anna Pieta, an activist, offered a resounding statement directed towards the new members of parliament: “We put them there. Now it’s time to perform.”