Next month, an election notice is likely to arrive in mailboxes across the region. Attending a rally could come with giveaways like a hat, an eco bag, a hand fan, or a pen stamped with a party emblem. This generosity is funded largely by public money, meaning all citizens contribute to the costs. The clearest data concerns the total subsidies available to the six parties in the Valencian Parliament. The figure is substantial: 3,173,008.30 euros, a 4.2% increase from the previous regional election results. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
As with other funding schemes, government subsidies are allocated based on votes, seats, and overall representation. The Valencian autonomous government updated these indicators and nudged the total slightly higher. In 2023, the value assigned per seat rose from 13,387.25 euros to 13,923 euros, and the per-vote amount increased from 0.67 euros to 0.70 euros. This rate also applies to outfits that cross the 3% threshold even if they do not hold a seat in the Community. Behind Unides Podem, the Interior Ministry noted the Animal Husbandry coalition, which garnered only 38,447 votes (1.43%) compared with Animal Abuse. Subsidies are therefore limited to PSPV-PSOE, PP, Ciudadanos, Compromís, Vox, and Unides Podem. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
This set of funds ranges from 826,657.30 euros for the party with the most votes and seats in the last Valencian Cortes to 262,158.40 euros for Unides Podem. The gap is substantial and, logically, arithmetic explains the distance. In practical terms, the split resembles nearly a fourfold difference. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Following May 28, parties must account for these costs to receive financial backing, and audits will be conducted by the Sindicatura de Comptes. Parties may receive a 30% advance before this date, providing a meaningful economic stimulus to energize campaign activities in the final 15 days. Rallies and demonstrations have intensified across the province. The advance totals vary, roughly 250,000 euros for the socialists, about 186,000 euros for the popular party, around 174,000 euros for Ciudadanos, 164,000 euros for Compromís, and 79,000 euros for Unides Podem. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
As a note, with the amounts now known, the guidelines for eligible expenditures have been outlined in an instruction issued by the Sindicatura de Comptes. Valencia’s auditing body aligns with the Court of Accounts, which oversees the rest of the election funding process. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Seventy euros to participate as a polling center member
Among the known figures is a 70-euro allocation for every citizen who serves as a polling center chairperson or member. Substitutes receive nothing unless they must step in. The chair positions are assigned by lottery in municipal buildings. For regional and municipal elections, consulates will hold extraordinary plenary sessions from April 29 to May 3. The notice period opens after that, and anyone unable to attend the table has until May 24 to explain why. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Entities must submit financial documents on time, including the balance sheet, income statement, journal, summary of transactions by account, and a closing balance. The required reporting is due 30 days after the elections. A 20-day clarification window follows, and a ten-day response period for the parties. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
The instructions also introduce changes in how the money is justified and allocated through the grant. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
New sanctions
Updates emphasize expense justification. Parties must provide a minute detailing actions, rallies, and campaign-related shipments, including envelope contents, preparation and delivery fees, and the destination of shipments by constituency. New sanctions for violations under Electoral Law are included, with potential reductions in subsidies for non-compliance. If private contributions exceed the legal limit of 10,000 euros, a penalty equal to twice the excess amount applies. Any exceedance reduces aid, with the subsidy itself representing the ceiling. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
From election spending to health care: the 2023 Sindicatura de Comptes inspection
Related allowable expenses have remained stable: outdoor advertising, media, envelopes and ballots, venue rental, transport for candidates and staff, mail and postage, and related interest. Banks and financial institutions must account for loans made available to political parties. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Finally, the Central and Provincial Election Boards will enforce the regulations from the call date until 100 days after the election. The SAI may request documents it finds relevant. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Report
All electronically submitted documents are compiled into a formal report. In 2019, the Sindicatura analyzed how parties used their funds. No party exceeded the limits, and inquiries focused on supporting documents. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Interestingly, personnel expenses show little use of training funds. Most spending went toward rental of materials, venues, and vehicles for outreach. In the coming months, election offices will become hubs of activity for supporters and volunteers, who play a central role in organizing rallies and meetings. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
A citizen voting in the 2019 municipal elections is pictured. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
The Sindicatura publishes a practical brochure for parties. Not all groups contesting municipal elections have the size or resources of larger formations. The Alicante province, like the rest of Spain, also hosts small local parties facing the polls. The spending rules for public funding require the Sindicatura to provide brochures with essential information before audits. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
- The maximum spend is calculated by multiplying the population by 0.11 euros for the constituencies where each party or coalition fields candidates. If represented in at least half of the municipalities, an additional 150,301.11 euros can be spent in each province. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
- Outdoor advertising cannot exceed 20% of the total spending limit. The same cap applies to press, radio, and social media advertising budgets. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Calculation: steps to follow
- To estimate the maximum a party can spend, start with the town’s population from the municipal registry, as updated by Royal Decree effective December 31, 2022. The National Institute of Statistics page also lists this figure. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
- For Alicante, with 338,577 residents, multiplying by 0.11 euros yields a spending limit of 37,243.47 euros. For Elche, the figure is 25,913.80 euros. From these, partial limits for advertisements are derived, such as 7,448.70 euros for Alicante and 5,182.76 euros for Elche. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
Sanctions: consequences for violations
- The Court of Accounts strictly enforces the rules, with numerous investigations into campaign spending. Sanctions escalate with the level of excess: 10% or more triggers very serious penalties; 3% to below 10% triggers serious penalties; 1% to 3% triggers light penalties. [Sindicatura de Comptes]
- Article 17 of the same law allows proportional sanctions ranging from double to five times the excess, with minimum fines. Penalties range from 5,000 euros for minor violations to 50,000 euros for very serious cases, with 25,000 euros for serious ones. [Sindicatura de Comptes]