Voting in Manilva
As the results of the UK elections come in and it looks like the Conservatives have won with a majority, it’s time to turn our attention to the Spanish municipal elections on the 24th May. We have been looking into voting as a foreigner in Spain and how to do it and here are our findings.
If you are a foreigner living in Spain from an EU Country, or if your home country has an agreement with Spain (Norway, South Korea, New Zealand and many South American countries among others find out the full list here) then you are entitled to vote in your local elections, and in the case of the EU countries the EU elections.
However, you need to register to vote within a certain time frame before the elections, which happen every 4 years. I was concerned that I had missed the window to register, but thankfully we had registered for a reduction in our annual IBI Tax and as part of this process, had unknowingly also filled in the “Intención de Voto” form so I can now have my say. The Town Hall sometimes gives you these forms when you sign on to the “padron” (the list which declares where you live and entitles you to medical support and education among other things) but it depends on how busy they are!
If you’re not sure whether you’re registered, go along to your local Town Hall and ask. Unfortunately it’s too late to register to vote in these elections, but remember to ask for the “Intención de Voto” form next time you’re doing paperwork and at least you’ll be in the system for the next time. Sadly, because it doesn’t happen automatically, or routinely as part of other administrative procedures, only 1,400 foreign residents out of 4,300 registered on the padron in the Manilva area are registered to vote – just 15%. This means that we don’t have the power we should to get our voice heard and ensure issues important to the foreign residents are taken into consideration.
Those who have registered, should go down to their local polling station (Manilva Sports Pavillion, San Luis de Sabinillas school, or the castle in Castillo de Duquesa) to vote on Sunday 24th May from 9am-8pm. Check in the Town Hall if you’re not sure which polling station to go to, as you’re assigned to a particular one depending on your registered address.
If you’re out of the country but would like to cast your vote, you can do so before 14th May in any post office. You may have received an electoral census to your address, but don’t worry if you haven’t – you can still vote. You must take photo ID to confirm your identity.
Today the campaign posters are up and campaigning is beginning in earnest. You will start seeing a lot of information about the different parties, plus have the opportunity to go to presentations and read the parties’ manifestos. In Manilva, there are 6 parties in the race in total, 3 national parties and 3 independents – PSOE, ASM, Izquierda Unida, PP, MSI (we couldn’t find these guys online) and Comprismo Manilva with the following candidates for Mayor – Diego José Jiménez PSOE, Francisco Miguel Alvarez PP, Antonio Barragán IU, Emilio López Berenguer ASM, Diego Urieta (the current Mayor) Compromiso Manilva & José María Burgos MSI.
As the next step in their campaign, all the parties are presenting their list of councilors and holding events so interested voters can go and find out more. They will be in Spanish, but if your Spanish is up to it go along and find out more. Tonight at 8pm Compromiso Manilva is having theirs at Duquesa Golf Club. You can see all the details and register to attend on Facebook. PSOE have already had theirs but the following are planned; Izquierda Unida will have theirs on 10th May in Pozo del Rey from 18.00, PP will also have theirs on the 10th May from 12.00 in their local headquarters in Sabinillas, ASM will have theirs on the 16th in the Sabinillas la Noria Chiringuito from 19.00 and as yet MSI have not announced a date.
Do your research and decide what you feel will best represent your needs and that of Manilva. Happy voting!