Proposal to make voting equal for Spaniards living abroad

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill, introduced by the Parliament of Galicia, seeks to give Spaniards living abroad voting conditions similar to those of people living in Spain. To do so, it proposes in-person voting at consulates and an easier mail voting process.
2. It proposes organizing each consular district with more than 500 voters into electoral sections of up to 4,000 people, each with its own electoral board. Consulates would take on the duties that the electoral law gives to town councils, and the Central Electoral Commission or regional electoral commissions would take on those of provincial commissions.
3. The bill regulates election campaigns abroad (free venues for events and posters, and free airtime on public TV and radio stations aimed at people abroad), the appointment of poll watchers, the formation of electoral boards, and the detailed mail voting procedure, with deadlines to request and send the ballot.
4. The bill provides for a periodic review of the electoral roll of residents abroad, plus an extraordinary full review within six months of the law taking effect. It would also repeal Article 75 of the electoral law.

Who it affects

• Spanish citizens with the right to vote who live abroad: They could vote in person at consulates or by mail, with their own procedures and deadlines.
• Consulates and consular offices: They would take on electoral tasks that town councils handle in Spain: campaign venues, mailing documents, and safeguarding ballots.
• Parties, federations, coalitions and groups running in elections: They would have the right to free venues for events and posters and free airtime on public TV and radio stations aimed at people abroad.
• The electoral census office: It would have to periodically review the electoral roll of residents abroad and carry out an extraordinary review within six months.

Words worth knowing

Censo electoral (electoral roll)

The official list of people entitled to vote in an election.

Demarcación consular (consular district)

The territory and people served by each Spanish consulate abroad.

Mesa electoral (electoral board)

The group of people (chair and members) who collect ballots and count results at each polling place.

Interventor o interventora (poll watcher)

A person appointed by the candidates to make sure voting and counting are done correctly.

Escrutinio (ballot count)

The public count of ballots to determine the election result.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries