Round Town: Local News Benidorm, Alfaz, Altea.

And with just 8 months left before the campaigning starts in earnest for your vote in the local elections which will take place sometime in May 2011, you should take a trip to your local town hall to check your name is on the list to vote. Because when the campaigning starts in earnest next Spring, it will be too late to register and your voice will not be heard.

If you’ve voted before and have not moved house you don’t need to go as theoretically you’re registered…but if you have the time and want to make sure, there’s no harm in checking. If you’ve voted before but have since moved house, you need to inform the town hall or else your voting slip will be sent to the wrong address.

How do I register my right to vote?

First of all you need t be registered on the town padrón (census). Simply take your passport and NIE and proof that you live here (rental contract, house deeds or utility bill in your name) to the town hall and say at the front desk

“Quiero empadronarme” and they will direct you to the correct department. They won’t put up many obstacles as the more people registered on the town census means more grants when it comes to government handouts.

Once they’ve added you to the census they should automatically ask you if you want to exercise your right to vote in the local elections and the European elections; say ‘Yes’ to both. Whether you decide to vote on the day is your choice, but for now better to register your intention, than to give up your right.

If you’re already registered on the padrón and just want to check you’re on the electoral role, again take your passport and NIE into the town hall and ask for “El departamento de esdadisticas”. Once there inform them that you want to “Inscribirme en el censo electoral como residente en España” (as a resident of Spain I wish to register on the electoral census). When they enter your NIE it will show up if you are already registered or not and in the case of the latter they will proceed with your application.

And that is all there is to it. So please, don’t delay, do it now. Because when the campaign starts in Spring, it will be too late for you to register for the next elections and no matter what promises the politicians come up with we won’t be able to support them.

With thousands of expats now residing on the coast, our collective voice is important and the more of us that are registered to vote, the more notice the politicians will take of us  when we command simple changes like the right to visit the doctor without dragging an interpreter along at our expense. Don’t waste this opportunity to ask for change, do it this week – before you forget and get caught up in Christmas preparations!

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