Who Can Vote in Spain? Eligibility Requirements Explained

Voting rights in Spain are granted to two main groups:

1. Spanish Citizens

Must be 18 years or older on election day.
Must be registered on the electoral census (Censo Electoral). Registration is automatic for residents in Spain; citizens abroad must register at their consulate.
Not deprived of voting rights by a final court judgment (rare, typically for serious crimes).

Citizens of European Union countries residing in Spain can vote in municipal and European Parliament elections (not national elections).
Citizens of certain countries with reciprocity agreements (e.g., Norway, Iceland, UK post-Brexit under specific terms, and several Latin American nations) may vote in municipal elections only after meeting residency requirements.
General requirement: legal residence in Spain for at least 5 years (3 years for EU citizens), plus registration on the municipal padró (local census).

Spain does not allow non-resident citizens to vote by mail in national elections unless they are officially registered as residents abroad (CERA).
Voting is not compulsory.
Elections include: general (national), regional (autonomous communities), local (municipal), and European Parliament.

For the most current reciprocity list and registration procedures, consult the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) or your local ayuntamiento (town hall).

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