On Sunday 22nd, Spain goes to the polls!
On Sunday 22nd, Spain goes to the polls!
(Benidorm)  The local elections take place in Spain on Sunday May 22nd and all European residents of Spain, over 18, who are registered on the padrón of their town and have requested their wish to vote have the right to vote.

 

It’s a democratic right that has only been available to us in recent years and our collective voice will make a difference. Many major decisions that affect our daily lives here are decided by your local town, such as local taxes, town planning and development issues. Therefore, as a responsible expat you should exercise your right to vote – and it only takes five minutes on the day.

You should receive a voting card to your home indicating your polling station (usually your local school or public building). But not everyone receives a voting card so alternatively you can look on the electoral list which should be displayed on the town hall notice board in the days leading up to the election or, ask your neighbours as they’ll be voting at the same station as you.

How do I vote?
The stations are open all day, there’s no break for lunch, from 9am – 8pm and a good time to go is lunchtime as it’s usually quieter. Armed with a valid form of ID head off to your polling station and there will be a list displayed outside in alphabetical order indicating which ‘mesa’ or desk you should vote at.

Who should I vote for?
In the days leading up to election, many of the parties will deliver a ballot paper in an envelope to your door whilst canvassing for your vote and explaining their manifesto. If this is the case, simply take your chosen party’s ballot paper in it’s envelope, queue at your allocated desk and when its your turn hand the teller your ID and he’ll indicate you to deposit your vote in the box.

If you are not already armed with a ballot paper, head into one of the booths before queuing up, select your chosen party, slip it in the envelope provided and then queue up and deposit as above.

The ballot paper lists all the names of the candidates of your chosen party in the order they will occupy a seat in the town hall, depending on the votes they receive. DO NOT mark the ballot paper in any way as this will make it null and void.

BEWARE of do-gooders ‘helping’ you make your choice on the day – this is strictly forbidden. There are people milling around to assist you in finding where to go, but no-one is allowed to pro-offer a ballot paper or envelope.
 
And that’s all there is to it! So please make the effort, it’s not a difficult procedure but a very important one and every vote counts. The current Mayor of Finestrat inched into power four years ago with a mere 18 votes more than his competitor – and to this day he is still convinced it was thanks to the many ‘foreign’ ie non-spanish voters that made the effort to support his cause on the day.
Finally, remember, if you can’t be bothered, don’t complain when the elected party do things that really irritate and annoy you!

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