Voting by persons temporarily residing abroad (ERTA)

Voters who wish to vote and are temporarily abroad between the announcement of an electoral process and the holding thereof must apply to vote in advance.

The application form can be found at Consulates and Embassies and it can be downloaded.

The completed application form must be delivered in person at the Consulate or Embassy.

In order to apply, they must be listed in the Consular Enrolment Register as non-residents. Both procedures (application and registration) can be carried out at the same time.

The deadline for submitting applications is 11 May.

The Electoral Census Office will send you the voting documents.

They must be sent no later than 28 May. The time it takes for the documents to arrive at the address abroad must be added to this period.

What does the electoral documentation sent by the Electoral Census Office consist of?

  • An information sheet.

  • Ballot papers and envelopes

  • Electoral roll registration certificate.

  • An envelope that must contain the address of the polling station where they are entitled to vote.

  • An official form to enable reimbursement of postage costs, if applicable.

The voter shall select his/her voting option when inserting it into the voting envelope.

The following will then be placed in the envelope addressed to the polling station:

  • The voting envelope with the chosen ballot paper (or no ballot paper if he/she wishes to abstain).

  • Electoral roll registration certificate.

  • If you so wish, the completed form for the reimbursement of the postage costs.

Voters have until 5 June to send this envelope by registered mail.

To ensure the validity of these votes, the envelope must be clearly stamped with a postmark or any other official inscription provided by the corresponding national Post Office, certifying that it has been sent before the envisaged deadline.

The Post Office service will keep the correspondence addressed to the polling station until the day of the voting and transfer it from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm on the same day.

More information at the Embassy or Consulate and on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation website, and the INE website.