Electoral law reform: boards, appeals, spending and conflicts of interest

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. Strengthens the powers of the Electoral Administration, especially the Central Electoral Board (Junta Electoral CentralJunta Electoral Central The top body of the Electoral Administration, which oversees that elections run properly.), which can issue binding instructions to provincial boards, resolve consultations, overturn their decisions and impose fines. The chairs of the higher boards will work exclusively on electoral duties during election periods.
2. Creates a two-tier system within the Electoral Administration and then allows access to the courts (Supreme Court or Higher Courts of Justice), plus an amparo appeal before the Constitutional Court with very short deadlines: three days to file it and fifteen for the court to rule.
3. Simplifies electoral procedures and documents: polling station members will receive an instruction manual, the rules for proving the right to vote are clarified (national ID card, passport or driver's license with photo), and a blank vote is defined as an envelope with no ballot paper.
4. Seeks more clarity on campaign spending: it defines what counts as electoral expenses, sets spending limits and state subsidies in pesetas per seat, vote or voter, and requires each candidacy to have an electoral administrator responsible for income, expenses and accounting.
5. Regulates no-confidence motions at the local level: a Mayor can be removed by an absolute majorityabsolute majority Half of all the members of the chamber plus one: 176 of 350 in the Congreso. of Councillors, with a candidate for Mayor named in the motion, which must be debated and voted within fifteen days. A similar rule is added for the President of the Island Council (Cabildo Insular).
6. Establishes full-time dedication for members of the Congress of Deputies, the Senate and the European Parliament: their office is incompatible with almost any other paid public or private activity, with limited exceptions, and they must declare their activities and assets in a public Register of Interests.

Who it affects

• Parties, federations and coalitions running in elections: They must appoint electoral administrators, keep proper accounts, respect spending limits and share free airtime under the new rules.
• Voters and polling station members: They get simpler procedures, an instruction manual and clearer rules for voting and vote counting.
• Members of the Congress of Deputies, the Senate and the European Parliament: Their term becomes a full-time job, with conflicts-of-interest rules and a duty to declare activities and assets.
• Mayors, Councillors and Presidents of Island Councils: They can be removed through no-confidence motions with specific deadlines and majority requirements.
• Electoral Boards and the Electoral Administration: They gain powers, hierarchy and exclusivity during election periods.

Words worth knowing

Junta Electoral Central

The top body of the Electoral Administration, which oversees that elections run properly.

Mesa electoral

The team of people running each polling station: they collect ballots, count votes and write the official records.

Recurso de amparo

A special appeal to the Constitutional Court when a fundamental right, here the right to take part in elections, is said to be violated.

Moción de censura

A vote to remove an officeholder, such as a Mayor, and replace them with a candidate named in advance.

Registro de Intereses

A public register where members of parliament declare their activities, income and assets.

absolute majority

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

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries