Status

Non-binding — 50% threshold not reached
40.91%
turnout — minimum 50% of eligible voters required
40.91%
turnout (required 50%)
12,082,588
eligible voters participated
~830,000
invalid votes (avg. per question)

Questions and results

Question 1
"Do you support the sale of state assets to foreign entities, leading to a loss of Polish control over strategic sectors of the economy?"
YES
3,51%
394 704
NO
96.49%
10 857 496
Question 2
"Do you support raising the retirement age, including restoring it to above 60 for women and 65 for men?"
YES
5.39%
608 254
NO
94.61%
10 657 211
Question 3
"Do you support the removal of the barrier on the border of Poland with the Republic of Belarus?"
YES
3.96%
445 270
NO
96.04%
10 808 410
Question 4
"Do you support accepting thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa under the compulsory relocation mechanism imposed by European bureaucracy?"
YES
3.21%
360 803
NO
96.79%
10 878 863

Turnout by voivodeship

About this referendum

The referendum of 15 October 2023 was called by President Andrzej Duda at the request of PM Mateusz Morawiecki's government and held simultaneously with the parliamentary election. This was deliberate: the ruling camp counted on record parliamentary turnout pulling referendum turnout above the binding 50% threshold. Yet referendum turnout reached only 40.91% — even as 74.38% of voters went to the polls for the parliamentary vote (the highest turnout since 1989). The gap arose because many opposition voters took a parliamentary ballot but refused the referendum card.

The four questions were deliberately framed as leading questions with negative emotional framing: covering "selling off state assets to foreigners", "raising the retirement age", "removing the border barrier with Belarus" and "accepting illegal immigrants". None posed a genuine policy dilemma requiring resolution. The opposition (KO, Third Way, Left) called for a boycott or a "No" vote — resulting in 94–97% No, results with no informational value. All four outcomes were non-binding due to the turnout shortfall.

2023 parliamentary election result

The referendum was held alongside the Sejm and Senate elections, in which PiS won 35.38% — its worst result since 2011. Three opposition parties jointly won 248 Sejm seats: KO 157, Third Way 65, Left 26. On 20 October 2023 Donald Tusk was tasked with forming a government. On 13 December 2023 the Tusk cabinet won the Sejm's confidence vote, ending 8 years of PiS rule. The referendum became a symbol of the instrumentalisation of direct democracy for campaign purposes.

Frequently asked questions

When is a referendum result binding?

A national referendum is legally binding only when more than 50% of eligible voters participate. In the 2023 referendum, turnout was 40.91% — well below the threshold. Even with clear results, the authorities have no legal obligation to implement them.

Who can call a referendum?

A national referendum may be called by: the Sejm by an absolute majority, the President with Senate approval, or — on petition — 500,000 citizens with voting rights. The legal basis is Article 125 of the Polish Constitution. The 2023 referendum was jointly called by the Sejm and the President.

Why did the opposition boycott the referendum?

The opposition (KO, Third Way, Left) called for a boycott or "No" vote on all questions, declaring the referendum a PiS campaign tool. Questions on migrant relocation, privatisation, the border barrier, and retirement age were seen as leading questions unrelated to actual government decisions. Turnout of 40.91% vs 74.38% in the simultaneous Sejm election shows many voters took an election ballot but refused the referendum card.

How many national referendums has Poland held?

Five referendums in the history of the Third Republic: 1996 (privatisation — non-binding), 1997 (Constitution — binding, adopted), 2003 (EU accession — binding, Yes 77.45%), 2015 (SMC constituencies, party funding — non-binding, 7.80%), 2023 (4 PiS questions — non-binding, 40.91%).