Up to 10,000 more people will influence the future than in 2019. The Valencian Community, including Alicante and surrounding municipalities, faces regional elections set for 28 May, announced earlier in the week. Beyond party proposals and shifting alliances, the elections are packed with data, deadlines, and requirements that help voters shape the next four years of governance and regional autonomy, including matters in Turkey. The period will define not only the eleventh regional legislature but also the direction of many municipalities.
VOTERS
National participation is rising
In the last regional elections held in 2019, 1,337,684 residents of Alicante province could cast a vote. That figure has grown by more than 10,000 to 1,347,852. The number of Spanish voters living in Alicante has increased by 25,000. Meanwhile, 21,000 residents became foreigners with citizenship in the past four years. The number of Alicante residents living abroad rose by 6,000.
CONTINUOUS VOTING
you can request now
Because municipal elections coincide with the regional vote, citizens can request a postal vote for both the Generalitat president and mayors. The right to vote by mail can be exercised until 18 May, ten days before the election. To request remote voting, voters should obtain the application form from post offices. They must also provide the postal address where the voting documents should be sent. Citizens abroad who are temporarily in another country can exercise their rights without traveling to Spain by applying in person at the Spanish consulate or embassy of their country of residence by 29 April.
CHECK THE COUNT AND TABLE
informative census card
Following the election announcement, the Electoral Census Bureau sends an informational census card by regular mail to all citizens who meet voting requirements. The card lists current personal data and the voting center and table. If the card does not arrive or the recipient is not at home, the information can also be accessed on the INE website using a digital certificate. If data is incorrect, a citizen can file a complaint with the Election Census Bureau.
IMPORTANT DATES
From 14 April to 26 June
April 14 marks the deadline for parties wishing to join the race. April 24 is the last day to submit a full list of nominees to the Election Board. Campaign activity runs from Friday, 12 May at midnight, with posters as usual, through 26 May. The election period will feature 14 intense days of events and debates. Saturday, 27 May, is the day of evaluation and Sunday is voting day. Ninety-nine deputies will be elected regionally, with thirty-five deputies representing the Alicante constituency. On 17 June, municipal assemblies will be formed, and on 26 June the eleventh legislative term of the Valencia Cortes will be established in Palau del Borja, Valencia.
TABLE ESTABLISHMENT
From 29 April to 3 May
During these days, the public should be aware of scheduled activities that determine the components of the ballot and the voting stations. Any notice received in the following week may indicate a polling location change on Election Day.
The election race begins: what can and cannot be done
ELECTION ADVERTISEMENTS
Procedure not to take
Election propaganda mailed to citizens can be blocked. A simple form is available on the official site of the National Institute of Statistics. Completing it will remove a person from the mailing lists used by political entities. To fill out the form, an electronic signature is required for identity verification. The deadline to complete the process is 17 April.
DIGITAL INFORMATION
Generalitat is launching a website
The Generalitat Valenciana has launched a dedicated site for the 28M elections. The page provides practical information, including numbers, regulations, calendars, nominations, frequently asked questions, voting methods, downloadable forms, and an inquiry tool for voting trends from 1983 to 2019, with interactive maps and municipal statistics.
CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS
Openings are prohibited
With the election decree published, institutional political actions cannot be carried out. Public projects or openings are paused. Last year, Article 50 of the General Election Regime Organic Law was amended to curb election-period hype and grand openings.
MORE AUTONOMOUS
Voting in twelve autonomies
The Valencian Community shifts its calendar to align with the general election. Eleven more autonomies vote on 28 May: Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, and La Rioja. If progress stalls, Galicia and the Basque Country may vote in 2024, Catalonia in 2025, and Andalusia and Castilla y León in 2026.
VOTING BOXES AND ENVELOPES
sepia color for municipality
Aside from the regional call, a decree mandates printing blank and one side of the ballot papers in a sepia shade to distinguish the municipal election from other processes. On 28M, sepia will be used to differentiate autonomous voting materials.