The 13 members of the electoral commission including (sitting from left) Lucyna Tomasiewicz, Karolina Smorczewska, Marcin Stanislawski, Artur Klecha and (standing from left) Mirek Waldowski, Anna Wrobel, Karolina Wasilczyk, Mirek Wasilczyk, Elzbieta Hemmerling, Zenon Bartoszuk, Damian Kobylarz, Barbara Stachowska Pietkiewicz Vice-chairman, Wojtek Wrobel vice chairman.

Voting takes place in Monksland for Polish Presidential Election

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By Rebekah O'Reilly

Votes have been cast in Monksland Community Centre for the Polish Presidential Election on Sunday (May 18).

The vote is the third time Athlone has hosted a polling station for Polish elections, with polling stations being held in 2023 for a Polish parliamentary election, and in 2024 for European elections.

The Midlands polling station is organised by the Polish Embassy in Dublin with the help of an electoral commission made up of 13 people.

Over 1,400 people from across the Midlands registered to vote in Monksland Community Centre, with 1,300 turning out to cast their votes on the day.

"It's a really important moment in history, because the President of Poland has a lot of power to change things," said Wojtek Wrobel, Vice Chair of the Polish Voting Commission.

"I have been in Ireland for 20 years, and it's still important for me to be a part of Polish society, and part of the community. I think it is important for most Polish people living abroad to still have a voice."

There are 14 polling station across Ireland, including the Monksland Community Centre which caters for Westmeath, Longford, and Offaly, as well as six in Dublin, two in Cork, and one each in Limerick, Kilkenny, Gorey, and Letterkenny.

Poland holds a Presidential election every five years, with the Polish diaspora across the globe keen to have their say.

"In the Polish system, the same people who collect the votes during the day also stay to count the votes. We spent 20 hours in the Monksland Communtiy Centre from 6am on Sunday morning to 2am on Monday morning," said Mr Wrobel.

"It was very well organised, so there were no long queues. People only had to wait for a few minutes inside to cast their vote."

The Polish community across Ireland will be back at polling station on June 1, as Sunday's vote did not succeed in electing their new President.

"A candidate needs over 50% to be elected as President. On Sunday, no candidate met the quota, so we will have to vote again in two weeks time."

Polling for the Polish Presidential Election will take place in Monksland Community Centre from 7am on June 1.

Mr Wrobel added: "We want to thank Monksland Community Centre for their hospitality, and for providing a comfortable environment to host the polling station. The staff took great care of us and are always very friendly."

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