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What it is

Bill to let 16-year-olds vote in elections

Admitted step 2 of 7 · Rejected

It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 29 July 2016. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario de Esquerra Republicana.

Official title: Private member's organic bill amending Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, on the General Electoral Regime, to extend the right to active suffrage to those over 16 years of age.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000007· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The bill would lower the voting age in elections from 18 to 16. It changes Article 2 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 Regime to do so.
  2. It would also change the rules for polling station boards: the draws to pick their members would include 16- and 17-year-olds, in addition to older people.
  3. It would adapt the electoral roll: city councils would register residents aged 16 or over, and people listed as minors could vote if they have already turned 16 on election day.
  4. If passed, the law would take effect three months after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

  • 16- and 17-year-olds: Could vote in elections from age 16 instead of 18.
  • 16- and 17-year-olds: Could be drawn to serve on polling station boards from age 16.
  • City councils: Would have to send the electoral roll the registrations and cancellations of residents aged 16 or over.

Words worth knowing

Sufragio activo
The right to vote in elections.
Mesa electoral
The group of people who run the vote at each polling station and check that everything is done properly.
Censo electoral
The list of people entitled to vote in an election.
Ley Orgánica
A type of Spanish law reserved for major matters, such as fundamental rights, which needs a larger majority to pass.
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 rejected.

  1. Introduced29 July 2016Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted6 September 2016The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
  4. Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Jul 2016Aug 2016Sept 2016Oct 201611. 29 July 2016: Presentación22. 6 September 2016: Boletín Oficial de las Cortes Generales Publicación desde 06/09/2016 hasta 09/09/201633. 6 September 2016: Calificación44. 9 September 2016: Gobierno Contestación desde 09/09/2016 hasta 17/10/201655. 17 October 2016: Pleno Toma en consideración desde 17/10/2016 hasta 22/11/201666. 22 November 2016: Concluido - (Rechazado) desde 22/11/2016 hasta 25/11/2016

22 November 2016

How did the plenary vote?

More votes against 168 yes · 173 no

Voted on: Private member's bill by the Esquerra Republicana Parliamentary Group, Organic Law amending Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, on the General Electoral Regime, to extend the right to active suffrage to those over 16 years of age.

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, vote 3 of sitting 15· updated 10 Nov

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Your province

How did the deputies from your province vote?

And your senators: the Senate does not link its votes to this law in its open data, so we cannot put them side by side here.

Or see how most of each province voted
More details: how each group and each province voted

The groups

Who voted in favour and who against?

In favour, most of Socialista, Mixto, Gcup-ec-em and GER. Against, most of Vasco (EAJ-PNV), Ciudadanos, Sin grupo and Popular en el Congreso. 4 deputies voted differently from their group.

By province: in 12 most voted in favour; in 25, against.

Coloured by how most of each province’s deputies voted.

  • In favour: 12
  • Against: 25
  • Tie: 15
Result by parliamentary group
GroupSeatsHow it voted
Socialista84
83 in favour · 1 did not vote
Vasco (EAJ-PNV)5
5 against
Mixto19
14 in favour · 4 against · 1 did not vote
Ciudadanos32
30 against · 2 did not vote
Gcup-ec-em67
63 in favour · 4 did not vote
GER9
8 in favour · 1 did not vote
Sin grupo3
3 against
Popular en el Congreso131
131 against

What happens next

What happens now?

It goes no further. A similar one could be introduced later.

Presented before in:

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • 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.

Read the full method · Report an error