The Most Important Person in the Elections: How to choose the new head of the National Electoral Office?

In early March 2025—during the presidential election campaign—the term of office of the Head of the National Electoral Office, Minister Magdalena Pietrzak, comes to an end.

We are at a critical moment for Polish elections. Technological advancements and the geopolitical context necessitate greater attention to the regulation and enforcement of electoral law, particularly regarding campaign finance. There exists a tangible risk of external interference in the conduct and security of elections, while growing political polarization in Poland—along with amendments to the Electoral Code introduced in recent years—undermines public trust in the electoral administration, including its highest authority: the National Electoral Commission.

From an organizational and financial standpoint, the Head of the National Electoral Office (KBW) is the most pivotal figure in the electoral process. It is the KBW—rather than the National Electoral Commission (PKW)—that manages the budget for organizing elections. The Head of the KBW directs the operations of the electoral administration, bears responsibility for the organizational, financial, and technical conditions under which elections and referendums are conducted, and also serves *ex officio* as the Secretary of the National Electoral Commission.

It is necessary that the selection of the new Head of the National Electoral Office be conducted in a manner that is maximally transparent and inclusive, and that candidates be identified and evaluated based on their experience, competencies, and personal attributes. The selected individual must possess strong legitimacy, grounded in the recognition of their independence and integrity by a broad spectrum of political and social stakeholders.

It should be the standard in Poland to fill the most critical state positions through open calls and following public hearings of the candidates. As organizations working to promote electoral fairness and civil rights, we call for this approach to be applied to the selection of the Head of the National Electoral Office.

READ THE PROPOSAL FROM 50 ELECTION EXPERTS (in Polish)