A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
The Associated Press
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The Latest on Poland's parliamentary election (all times local):
2:10 p.m.
European Union chief Donald Tusk says regardless of political tensions in his native Poland the nation's democracy is "very strong and stable."
A former Polish prime minister, Tusk voted in the country's parliamentary election Sunday in his northern hometown of Sopot.
The ruling populist Law and Justice party was favored to win, buoyed by the popularity of its conservative agenda and generous social spending. It has clashed with the EU over rule of law issues and has tried to discredit its opponents, including the pro-EU Civic Coalition that Tusk is linked with.
Tusk says "it's important that the winner does not try to destroy its opponents, but understood that after a win all political forces need to live side by side."
He hopes the election turnout will be above 50%.
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8 a.m.
Poles are voting in a parliamentary election that the ruling nationalist Law and Justice party was favored to win, buoyed by the popularity of its conservative agenda and generous social spending.
Concerns about democracy have made Sunday's vote this one of the country's most momentous elections since the fall of communism 30 years ago. Critics fear Poland's illiberal turn could become irreversible if the party wins another four-year term.
More than 30 million voters were choosing lawmakers in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, the Sejm, and in the 100-seat Senate.
Law and Justice is the first party since the fall of communism to break with the austerity of previous governments. Its popular programs include one that gives 500 zlotys ($125) to families per month per child.
Law and Justice is hoping to win a majority of seats Sunday but possible coalition partners, if it needs any, could include two small parties, the conservative agrarian Polish People's Party and Confederation, a far-right group that is openly anti-Semitic and depicts gay people as pedophiles.
In this photo taken Tuesday Oct. 8, 2019 Poland's ruling right-wing party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski speaks at a convention in Warsaw, Poland. ahead of Sunday parliamentary election in which his Law and Justice party is hoping to win a second term in power. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
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People vote by ballot in an election to the Polish parliament in Warsaw, Poland, on Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
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A woman holding a dog prepares to cast her ballot in an election to the Polish parliament in Warsaw, Poland, on Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
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In this photo taken Thursday Sept. 26, 2019 Poland's ruling right-wing party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski is seen attending a party convention in Plock, Poland, ahead of Sunday parliamentary election in which his Law and Justice party is hoping to win a second term in power. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
People vote by ballot in an election to the Polish parliament in Warsaw, Poland, on Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
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A man lets his son help him cast his ballot in elections to the Polish parliament in Warsaw, Poland, on Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies. Critics, however, fear that another term for the party, whose term has included an erosion of the rule of law, will mark a further decline in democracy. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
A woman votes by ballot in an election to the Polish parliament in Warsaw, Poland, on Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
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Voters inspect ballots at a polling station in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
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A catholic nun approaches polling station in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
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Opposition leader Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska casts her ballot at a polling station in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
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A catholic nun reacts after vote at a polling station in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
The Associated Press
Voters inspect ballots at a polling station in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. Poles are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election, that the ruling party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski is favored to win easily, buoyed by the popularity of its social conservatism and generous social spending policies that have reduced poverty. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
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