Kilka uwag w związku z nowelizacją ordynacji wyborczej do rad narodowych

Abstract

The paper presents remarks referring to some amendments of 10 March 1988 to the People’s Councils electoral regulations of 13 February 1984. It has been pointed out that passing of the amendments was preceded by a too short period of public consultation about the changes in the People’s Councils electoral regulations, published by the Council of State. As a result a part of the community thought the changes were only formal. Besides, the Constitution in force provides in art. 102 that electoral regulations must be passed jointly for the Parliament and the People’s Councils. Separate regulations should follow the answer to the question what the representation is, and what is the role of local representative organs in the social, political and economic life. The author’s option is one-member constituencies and preservation of district lists from which a limited number of councillors will be elected. The way of appointing candidates for councillors and members of parliament is particularly important in the electoral procedure, as it crucially decides about the degree of democracy of the whole electoral system. It should be considered to give the right to appoint candidates by workers’ selfgovernments of institutions situated within the district of a people’s council, as well as by groups of citizens large enough to confirm confidence in suggested candidates. Electoral Conventions and Boards should be abolished, and the role of the committee of political parties and the Patriotic Movement of National Revival (PRON) should be clearly determined. The election of 19 June 1984 proved that alphabetical arrangement of candidates’ names on the ballot-papers was unreasonable. Ignorance of the system and old habits of the voters resulted in voting for the candidates who were on the top of the ballot-papers, that is whose names begin with the first letters of the alphabet. Also the question of repeated election should be resolved in the new electoral regulations, because now when the results of voting repeat, the seat remains unoccupied for the term.