Polarization that boosted voter turnout - lessons from Poland's 2023 parliamentary elections

This presentation examines the record-high voter turnout in Poland’s latest parliamentary elections, attributing this phenomenon to intensified political polarization and strategic mobilization by political entities. By analyzing data from the Polish National Election Study (POLNES), I’ll highlight how polarization sharpened political divides and catalyzed previously apathetic voter segments. The talk will explore the broader implications of these trends for democratic engagement and the strategies political parties employ to engage voters in highly polarized environments.

About the speaker:

Mikołaj Cześnik is a Professor at SWPS University, Warsaw, serving as the Director of the Institute of Social Sciences. His main research interests include elections, voting behaviour, democratic participation and class politics. Since 1999, he has been a leading member of the Polish National Election Study (POLNES), and since 2023 he has been the POLNES project’s principal investigator. He has significantly contributed to understanding Poland’s politics, societies, and elections. His work is recognized, with numerous publications in various academic journals, including Communist and Post-Communist Studies; East European Politics; East European Politics and Societies: and Cultures; Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties; Party Politics.

Chair: 

Prof Anne White, UCL SSEES

Image credit: Ballot box at the 2023 Polish parliamentary elections, Wikimedia (edited)