Used in the Polish electoral law the institution collecting signatures as an instrument of the initial selection of candidates in the presidential election she took on the character of the façade. The fundamental cause of the situation is ineffective system verify the authenticity of signatures. The study analysed the legal framework and practice for collecting signatures for candidates in the presidential election. A separate part of considerations for possible modifications or changes to the system, so as to eliminate the emerging pathologies on the basis of the application of the existing laws and to effectively make the initial verification of the candidates in the presidential election, rejecting candidates serious or unknown to the wider public.