Poland Orders Early Mayoral Election in Niedźwiada for 8 November 2026

Poland has ordered early elections for the wójt (village mayor) of Niedźwiada commune, in województwo lubelskie, to be held on Sunday 8 November 2026. The decision was taken by the Prezes Rady Ministrów, D. Tusk, in a regulation dated 15 September 2026 and published in the Dziennik Ustaw of 16 September 2026 as item 1215. The regulation also lays down the complete electoral calendar that electoral committees, the electoral commissioner and voters must follow.

The regulation was issued under Article 474 § 2 of the Kodeks wyborczy (Electoral Code) of 5 January 2011, as amended (Dz. U. of 2025, items 365 and 1792, and of 2026, item 178). It consists of four paragraphs and an annex containing the electoral calendar, and it enters into force on the day following its publication, that is 17 September 2026. Paragraph 1 orders the early election to be held, paragraph 2 fixes the date at Sunday 8 November 2026, and paragraph 3 refers the deadlines for electoral activities to the annexed calendar.

The electoral calendar

The annex sets out 13 deadlines for electoral activities, running from the entry into force of the regulation to polling day:

• By 30 September 2026: publication of the seat of the gminna komisja wyborcza and notification to the komisarz wyborczy of the setting up of an electoral committee.
• By 1 October 2026: submission to the electoral commissioner of candidates for the communal electoral commission.
• By 2 October 2026: appointment of the communal electoral commission by the commissioner.
• By 9 October 2026: submission of candidates for precinct commissions, and publication of precinct numbers, boundaries and polling stations, including premises adapted to the needs of disabled voters.
• By 15 October 2026, 16:00: registration of candidates for wójt with the communal commission.
• By 19 October 2026: appointment of precinct electoral commissions by the commissioner.
• By 20 October 2026: requests by committee representatives for free airtime on public radio and television.
• 24 October to 6 November 2026 (24:00): free broadcast of election programmes by public broadcasters.
• By 26 October 2026: publication of the list of registered candidates for wójt, in alphabetical order, with surname, first name, age, education, place of residence, the nominating committee and party affiliation, together with lustration statements.
• By 30 October 2026: applications for a proxy mandate to vote.
• 6 November 2026, 24:00: end of the election campaign.
• 8 November 2026, 7:00–21:00: voting.

Voting facilities for disabled and older voters

The calendar provides specific arrangements for voters with disabilities and for older voters. By 26 October 2026, disabled voters and voters who turn 60 at the latest on polling day may declare their intention to vote by post, including by means of overlays on ballot papers prepared in Braille. By 30 October 2026, the same groups may apply for a proxy to vote on their behalf. The information published on precincts must also identify polling stations adapted to the needs of disabled voters.

Who is responsible

• The Wojewoda must publish the regulation by proclamation on the day it enters into force.
• The komisarz wyborczy receives notifications of the creation of electoral committees, receives candidates for the communal commission and appoints both the communal and the precinct electoral commissions.
• The gminna komisja wyborcza registers candidates for wójt and publishes the list of registered candidates.
• Electoral committees notify their creation and may request free airtime on public radio and television.

The regulation directly concerns the residents of Niedźwiada, who will choose their wójt in a vote held outside the regular local election cycle, and it fixes a tight timetable for the electoral administration and the committees. The first deadlines fall within two weeks of publication, with candidate registration for the office of wójt closing on 15 October 2026.

Source: Dziennik Ustaw, 2026, item 1215, 16 September 2026 (official reference: Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1215).