What it is
Bill to automatically mail voting documents to Spaniards living abroad
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 20 July 2016. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Socialista.
Official title: Private member's bill for an Organic Law reforming Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, on the General Electoral Regime, to facilitate the exercise of the vote by Spaniards abroad.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000003· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would eliminate the 'rogado' (requested) voting system for Spaniards living abroad. They would no longer have to request voting documents, because these would be sent to them automatically.
- The Provincial Delegations of the Electoral Census Office would automatically send these voters the ballots, voting envelopes, two certificates of registration in the census, and envelopes with the addresses of the Electoral Board and the consulate.
- Section 2 of Article 75 of the organic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. on the General Electoral System would be repealed. That section set out the procedure for requesting the documents.
- The law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).
Who it affects
- Spaniards registered in the census of resident non-residents (censo de residentes-ausentes): They would receive all voting documents automatically, without having to request them.
- Provincial Delegations of the Electoral Census Office: They would be in charge of automatically mailing ballots, envelopes and certificates to these voters.
- Consular offices and electoral boards: Their addresses would appear on the envelopes sent to voters.
Words worth knowing
- Voto rogado
- A system where voters must first request the documents in order to vote. The bill would eliminate it.
- Censo de electores residentes-ausentes
- The list of Spaniards living outside Spain who can vote from abroad.
- Proposición de ley orgánica
- A bill to amend a particularly important law. This one has not been passed yet.
- organic law
- A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.
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
Where it stands
How far did it get?
It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.
- Introduced20 July 2016Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted6 September 2016The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
- Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
- Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Was there a plenary vote?
We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.
What happens next
What happens now?
The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.
It has not been presented again yet.
Presented before in:
- X Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Private member's bill for an Organic Law reforming Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, on the General Electoral Regime, to facilitate the exercise of the vote by Spaniards abroad.
- XI Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Private member's bill for an Organic Law reforming Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, on the General Electoral Regime, to facilitate the exercise of the vote by Spaniards abroad.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000003
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
- Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
- We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.