No matter how often the term “democracy party” is repeated, the reality remains that voting in a ballot box is rarely a satisfying experience for most people. A single real task can stretch to more than fourteen hours, and depending on the moment it may feel dull or stressful. The only consolation for many who are paid to oversee this post is a salary, which this year ranges from 65 to 70 euros, though even this may become a real hardship over time. This is especially true for those who rely on new technologies and already use online banking frequently.
In many municipalities the pay is still issued in cash at the end of the day, but in larger towns the preference has shifted to other methods. They may log in to a system to collect payments by check, which requires visiting a local branch. This excludes anyone who depends on assets managed exclusively or primarily over the Internet.
This situation affected a person who worked at a desk in Elche and held accounts with an organization that operates mainly online. Customer service told him that the only way to receive funds was to make a deposit at the nearest office, which meant traveling to Alicante at personal expense.
The difficulty is even greater for customers of numerous online‑only banks. Some neo‑banks explicitly state on their websites that they do not support this form of payment, and thus do not issue checks.
“This system is increasingly used less for payments. Most people no longer expect to receive paychecks, and this shift should be acknowledged because it may only affect about 5% of users today, yet the trend will continue as more customers prefer this type of service” said Antonio Gallardo from the Bank Users Association.
The Bank of Spain’s own data aligns with that assessment: the number of payments by check has fallen by 65% since 2012, dropping from 59 million per year to 20 million last year. Overall, checks tend to be used more in professional settings rather than by individual consumers.
When it comes to individuals who handle physical assets, collecting the payment is often a kind of commission, depending on the terms of the account the customer has, as Gallardo noted.
Although the money paid to board members and presidents comes from the central government, the actual payments are made by each municipality, which holds the authority to choose the payment method. Some offices in provinces continue to favor cash or checks, while others have moved toward digital forms of settlement.
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In the second scenario, longevity of the payment method has been cited by officials who say branches once opened on Sundays have gradually closed as automated cashier services became standard. If cash is required, residents must keep a substantial amount on hand over weekends. To improve safety, some municipalities removed bearer checks, allowing only direct debit to accounts. If a check is lost, it can be canceled and reissued. No major complaints have been recorded, but the policy remains under review.
Ultimately, as Asufin notes, the simplest solution for many affected families might be to have a relative collect the cash, then hand it to the rightful recipient, even if this means involving a third party.