Bill proposes a runoff system for Spanish municipal elections

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1. The bill would add a runoff system to municipal elections. If a candidacy wins an absolute majorityabsolute majority Half of all the members of the chamber plus one: 176 of 350 in the Congreso. of the vote, it wins outright and council seats are allocated under current rules.
2. A candidacy would automatically get a majority of council seats (half plus one) if it wins over 35% of the vote and leads the next candidacy by five points, or if it wins over 30% and leads by ten points.
3. If no candidacy meets those thresholds, a second round would be held. Only candidacies that got at least 15% of valid votes in the first round could take part.
4. After the runoff, the leading candidacy would get half plus one of the council seats if it wins over 40% of the vote or leads the runner-up by at least 7 points. Otherwise, seats would be allocated based on first-round results.
5. The majority bonus would only apply to parties that ran alone or on a joint list presented before the vote. The goal is to prevent later deals that push aside the most voted option.
6. The Government would have one month from the law's entry into force to approve the rules needed to run the second round.

Who it affects

• City councils and local entities: The way council seats are allocated and mayors are chosen would change, with a possible second round.
• Political parties: Candidacies would need at least 15% of votes to enter the runoff and 5% to be counted at all.
• Voters in municipal elections: They could vote in a second round if no candidacy reaches the required results in the first one.

Words worth knowing

LOREG

Ley Orgánica del Régimen Electoral General, the Spanish law that regulates elections.

Segunda vuelta (second round)

A new vote held when the first round does not produce a final result.

Barrera electoral (electoral threshold)

Minimum share of votes a candidacy needs to take part or win council seats.

Prima de mayoría (majority bonus)

Extra council seats given to the most voted list to make it easier for it to govern.

absolute majority

Half of all the members of the chamber plus one: 176 of 350 in the Congreso.

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