What it is
Proposal to let 16-year-olds vote in Spain
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 15 April 2025. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Republicano.
Official title: Private member's bill to amend 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, file 122/000183· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would lower the voting age in Spain to 16. Today you must be 18, even though from 16 you can already work, pay taxes, or marry with permission.
- It would change the electoral law so the right to vote goes to Spanish citizens over 16 who are not barred from voting.
- It would also let people over 16 be drawn by lot to serve on polling boards, something now reserved for those over 18.
- It would update the electoral roll to register people turning 16, and the law would take effect three months after publication in the official state gazette.
Who it affects
- Young people aged 16 and 17: They could vote in elections and be drawn for polling board duty.
- City councils (Ayuntamientos): They would have to add people turning 16 to the electoral roll on the set dates.
- People barred from voting: They would still be unable to vote, as now.
Words worth knowing
- Sufragio activo
- The right to vote in an election.
- Mesa electoral
- The group of people who run the vote at each polling place and count the ballots.
- Censo electoral
- The official list of people allowed to vote in an election.
- Proposición de Ley Orgánica
- A bill introduced by members of Congress, not yet passed, covering major matters and requiring a special majority.
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 It reached Admitted, and today it is withdrawn.
- Introduced15 April 2025Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted29 April 2025The 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 7 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?
Whoever introduced it withdrew it, or it was merged into another one. It goes no further.
Presented before in:
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Withdrawn 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.
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Withdrawn Bill to let 16-year-olds vote in Spain
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Withdrawn Private member's bill to amend 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.
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Rejected Bill to lower the voting age to 16
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000183
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- Congreso de los Diputados, procedure
The date of each step, with its official wording.
Retrieved 12 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.