Tom PowellTHE race to the 2015 local, regional and national elections in Spain has already begun… and expat votes could hold the key to success.
But to have your say in your local town hall or the Junta elections you must be registered to vote, with the December 30 deadline getting ever closer.
To vote, you must be 18 or over and registered both on the padron – town hall register – and on the voting register.
It’s a simple process and your vote could make a big difference wherever you live.
Registration can be made via mail or online, but the best way is to go in person to your town hall.
Briton Guy McCrow, from Marbella’s Beach House restaurant, is taking a leading role in the drive to get expats ready to vote in his town.
“With elections coming up, it is in the best interest of expats to vote,” said McCrow.
“This matters to expats as it affects their lives on the coast.”
A second excellent reason to be registered on the padron is that the funding for each town’s infrastructure is based on the number of inhabitants.
Taking Marbella, as an example, the population is officially 140,000, while in reality it is more like 270,000.
This means the town is only receiving a fraction of the infrastructure funding that it is entitled to.
You should register – it is easier to ‘not vote’ if you are registered, than ‘to vote’ if you are not.
Remember, with many EU citizens registered, the authorities will have to take more notice of us!
Podemos…..Just to make it interesting!!
down with the fascist PP and Socialists
I’ll be voting (for the first time) for Podemos ~
Podemos. The last-chance saloon for Spain. If they fail, all hope is lost.