When can I exercise my right to vote in Spain?
You have the right to vote in Municipal Elections
As a foreign resident you can vote in Spain’s municipal elections if you are a citizen of the European Union** AND registered on the padrón in your local municipality AND registered on the electoral register.
You have the right to vote in European Parliamentary elections in Spain
As a foreign resident you can vote in the European Parliamentary Elections if you are a citizen of the European Union AND registered on the padrón in your local municipality AND you have elected to vote in the European Elections in Spain rather than in your country of origin.** What about BREXIT. Nothing has been decided as yet and residents of the United Kingdom are still entitled to register to vote in Municipal and European Elections.
Deadline for Registration (updated January 2019)
Why should I vote? What is in it for me?
The town council is elected by the citizens of Albox and their actions are in the main driven by the priorities of the people who can vote them into or out of office. By voting, you are making your voice heard and registering your opinion on how you think the town council should operate and what its priorities should be.But am I not automatically registered to vote when I apply for my Padron?
No. According to our latest enquiries you are automatically added to the voting register if you can produce a residencia document at the time of your application. As new residents rarely possess a residencia document when they first apply for their Padron, it is best to confirm that you are on the voting register and ask to be added if you are not already there.
How to register
- Complete a voter registration form CERE-DFA-1 (Censo Electoral de Ciudadanos de la UE, no españoles, residentes).
- Please note that the information entered must match the information on your padrón certificate.
- Print two copies of your voter registration form, fill them in and take them to your town hall along with your padrón certificate and your passport.
- Ask for one copy to be stamped as proof of receipt.
How long does it take to process your registration
Your council is required by law (1) to provide monthly updates of additions and amendments to the electoral register to the electoral census office.Confirming that you are registered to vote (updated January 2019)
Allow at least one month after registration before confirming that you are registered to vote. In spite of information to the contrary provided by the Electoral Census Office and the British Consulate we have found it impossible to check that you are registered to vote by enquiring in Albox Town Hall. We are informed that the register is only available for checking after it has closed on the 31st December. Therefore, in order to check that you are registered to vote in the municipal elections:- You can also consult the electoral register in the Delegación Provincial de la Oficina del Censo Electoral (Provincial Electoral Census Office) which is located in Calle Fresador, 12 - 04009 Almería.
- If you have an electronic signature you can check your registration online using the following link: Censo Electoral continuo / Consulta de inscripción en el Censo Electoral
- You can call the Census Office directly on 901101900 and they will help you. You will need a little Spanish to do this.
Can you be removed from the voting register?
Once you have registered to vote once, the registration is permanent and you do not have to renew it. However, if you have fallen off the padrón due to a padrón status check* , you will also need to re-register to vote.
If in doubt, register again!
* If you have residencia the town hall will send you a letter every 5 years asking you to confirm that you still live in Albox. If you do not reply you are removed from the Padron and lose your vote. If you do not have residencia this letter is sent every 2 years.
Your Voting Papers
A registration card will be posted to all registered voters before the election date but you may not receive it if you do not have a valid address. However, you do not need a registration card to vote. Simply go to your polling station with proof of identity (a copy of your padrón and your passport).Your registration papers will identify your "colegio electoral" or polling booth. This is normally the one nearest the address listed on your padrón. If in doubt, check with the town hall. On election day a member of staff is usually available in the town hall to advise you.
What happens on Election Day
In the polling booth, lists of the parties running for election will be available. Choose the list belonging to the party you wish to vote for and place your choice into one of the envelopes provided and then seal the envelope. On exiting the booth, go to the attendant, show identification and when given permission to do so, place the envelope in the ballot box.
What happens during an Election Campaign
The general order of events is as follows:
- Votes are cast for a political party not for an individual candidate.
- Each political party chooses a list of candidates and publishes their names on a list in order of most important to least important candidates.
- If the party wins one seat that seat goes to the first candidate on their list and so forth until all seats have been allocated.
- Campaigning begins approximately eight weeks before the actual elections.
- All canvassing for votes must cease two days before the actual election day and no campaigning is permitted on the last day (the so-called "day of reflection") or on election day, which is normally a Sunday.
- The elections take place at what are know as "colegios electorales", which are simply the various places in our local community where voting takes place.
What happens if I find that I am not registered to vote after the 31st December deadline?
Strict procedures exist which allow the omission to be rectified but it is advisable to avoid all the hassle by making sure that you are registered to vote before the deadline is reached.
References
(1) Royal Decree 15/1966 of 2 February and Order of 24 April 1996.
(2) The Organic Law from General Electoral Regime (LOREG), Article 38 section 2.
