Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program for the 18th NISPAcee Annual Conference Program Overview IV. Working Group on PA Reform Author(s) Agnieszka Czarkowska Stanislaw Staszic School of Public Administration in Bialystok Białystok Poland Title Electoral administration as a factor of democratic governance development File Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. Presenter Abstract Polish electoral system is durable and important structure of state bodies, which build up democratic state because it legitimizes the system of democratically chosen organs of state power and assures the rule of the law in the electoral process where judges participate. When elections are conducted inappropriately or unlawfully they destroy legitimacy of elected individuals and democratic state bodies. Internationally acclaimed analysts state that elections conducted between 1989 and 1997 in Poland became a meaningful factor bringing political and economic stability to the state . The institutional shape of the electoral authorities differs amongst various states in accordance to political, cultural tradition and transition into a democratic state. From a decade’s perspective, as well as based on the known international experiences in building system of bodies which conduct elections, we can state that we are dealing with the Polish model of electoral administration. Electoral administration is situated within the governmental bodies structure in numerous countries. Even in states where the electoral bodies are independent, the executive body is either temporary or found only by the central electoral body. However, Polish Electoral Administration is a permanent institution, separate in terms of organizational structure and finances, in the system of public administration, which can act within the local ream via its organizational bodies . The Polish National Electoral Commission is characterized by a high democratic standard: it is permanent and is independent from other governing power, yet in terms of personnel it is comprised of the highest ranking judges. Moreover, indirect organs, although they are created extemporaneously, they also consist of independent judges. Median bodies are also composed of impartial judges. The only positive exceptions from this rule of nominating are the Voyevodship Electoral Commissioner as well as their deputies, who are also recruited from amongst the judges. This solution can only be found in Poland and Croatia when looking at other 148 states, although the judges’ participation in elections is partially existent in other states at various levels and forms . When keeping in mind the cost of electoral administration of other states, the efficiency of the Polish electoral bodies is vivid and especially important in the contemporary financial crisis. Legal organizational regulations are very marginal in terms of specific electoral bodies legislative practice. There is a lack of international rules, which could define the national ideas, therefore we can see a great plethora of legislative solutions. It seems essential thus to discuss the structure and tasks of the electoral administration in Poland, which is legitimized by its professionalism and efficiency, has a great public trust, is politically neutral, especially at the highest and median level, completely independent from the government and meets all of the standards. Experience of following elections inarguably confirms the continuous strengthening of the democratic standards in our country – transparent, reliable and honest electoral process. It is the cardinal contribution of electoral bodies and electoral authorities, especially electoral commissioners who are permanent and stable component of the electoral structure.
