What it is
Electronic, no-request voting for Spaniards living abroad
Admitted step 2 of 7 · UnfinishedIt is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 30 September 2016. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Mixto.
Official title: Private member's bill for an Organic Law amending Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, on the Electoral Regime, to facilitate voting for residents abroad by eliminating the requested vote system and establishing an electronic voting system.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000035· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would have Spaniards living abroad vote by electronic means in elections to the Congress, the Senate, regional assemblies, the assemblies of Ceuta and Melilla, and the European Parliament (when voting in Spain is chosen).
- It would remove the 'Voto rogado A system that requires Spanish residents abroad to request voting documents before each election.' system, that is, the requirement to request the ballot in advance, which according to the explanatory statement sharply reduced turnout among residents abroad.
- The Government would have three months from the law's approval to issue the rules needed to set up electronic voting, with guarantees of accuracy and secrecy.
- Until electronic voting is ready, ballots and certificates would be sent automatically to voters registered in the census of residents abroad, with voting by mail or in person at consulates between the fourth and second day before election day.
Who it affects
- Spaniards living abroad registered in the CERA: They could vote electronically and would no longer have to request the ballot in advance.
- The Government: It would have to set up the electronic voting system within three months through regulations.
- Consulates and embassies: Until the electronic system is ready, they would handle sending the documents and in-person ballot drop-off.
Words worth knowing
- Voto rogado
- A system that requires Spanish residents abroad to request voting documents before each election.
- CERA
- Censo Electoral de Residentes Ausentes: the census of Spaniards living abroad who have the right to vote.
- Proposición de Ley Orgánica
- A bill to amend an organic law. It is not an approved law: it is being processed in Congress.
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.
- Introduced30 September 2016Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted4 October 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.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000035
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.