ARCHIVED - Municipal elections 2023 – update from Silvana Buxton, Mazarrón Councillor for Camposol & International Relations

An update on the voter registration requirements from Mazarrón Councillor Silvana Buxton after discussions with Sara Munsterhjelm, British Vice Consul in Alicante

Following news and speculation regarding UK residents' voting rights for the upcoming municipal elections on May 28 2023, the Mazarrón Councillor for Camposol & International Relations, Silvana Buxton, has contacted Sara Munsterhjelm, British Vice Consul for this area, for confirmation and any additional information available on the new process UK expats will have to follow in order to vote in municipal elections.

The British Vice Consul confirmed that the criteria required to qualify for registration to vote in May 2023 have changed since Brexit because UK expats do not automatically qualify to vote in municipal elections as they are no longer EU citizens, but a reciprocal agreement has been signed by the British and Spanish Governments allowing their respective nationals to vote in the local elections in the municipality (or Ward in the UK) in which they live.

The qualifying criteria are:-

*Over the age of 18.

*Must have been legally resident, been in the possession of a residencia card for at least three years prior to voter registration.

*Registered on the Padrón of the municipality in which they live and in which they wish to vote.

Additional information and confirmation of registration dates cannot be made until the law is ratified and the Instituto INE (National institute of Statistics) publish the relevant information.

The Vice Consul pointed out that the INE will be posting voter registration cards to expats who meet the criteria, but stressed that these are an invitation to register a wish to vote, not the right to vote and at this stage it is very important that UK expats who wish to exercise their right to vote check that the address information held on the Municipal Padrón is correct as it may be too late to change it if a card is not received.

So, British expats are urged to check the information held on the Town Hall Padrón is correct.

After the validation cards are received prospective voters should follow the instructions on registering: this may be by returning the card by post or in person at Mazarrón Town Hall.

The British Vice Consul is in contact with the INE Office in Alicante and hopes to have more concrete information and dates over the next few weeks.