From regional elections in Madeira to European ones. See dates, deadlines and modalities | Questions and answers

It’s a year full of elections and there are still two more on the calendar. The next elections will be regional elections in Madeira. The European elections follow. For the latest there is news, with the possibility of voting on mobility without prior registration in the European elections. But it’s worth revisiting all the rules. If you want to vote in advance or on the move, here’s what you should do.

When are the two elections?

Early elections for the regional government of Madeira will take place on May 26th. The European elections, which will choose the 21 Portuguese deputies for the European Parliament, take place on June 9th.

What’s new about these Europeans?

For the first time, voters will be able to vote anywhere on election day (9 June) without having to register in advance. The novelty will be possible thanks to the end of paper electoral rolls. With computers at each polling station, voters will be able to check the waiting time at each polling station and choose where to vote. The modality will be especially useful for those who want to take advantage of the week of public holidays that follow the European holidays.

Without prejudice to this option, it is still possible to vote in advance, before June 9th. However, in this case, voters must register.

Who can request an early vote?

All citizens registered in the national territory can register to vote in advance in the European elections. This modality, called “mobility early voting”, is permitted in electoral legislation, as long as the registration deadlines are met. Madeira’s regional elections have more demanding criteria (but we’ll get to that).

What data is needed to register?

When registering, the following data is requested: full name, date of birth, civil identification number, municipality where you wish to vote in advance, telephone contact and address email.

What are the mobility voting options in European elections?

They can vote on mobility in Portugal or abroad. In the first case, you must register between the 26th and 30th of May and you will be able to vote on the 2nd of June, in the location you have chosen. In turn, hospitalized patients and prisoners have until May 20th to request an early vote and can vote between May 27th and 30th, in the hospital or prison where they are located (where the vote will be collected).

If you are temporarily abroad (travelling or on Erasmus, for example), but are still registered in Portugal, you will be able to vote in the European elections between the 28th and 30th of May. To do this, you will have to go to a consulate or embassy previously defined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, identify yourself by presenting your civil identification document and indicate your parish of registration in the census. After voting, you will be given proof of exercising your right to vote.

I live abroad. How can I vote in the European elections?

If you have your registration address abroad, you can vote in person (there is no postal vote option) in one of the locations listed in the diplomatic representations, which you can consult on site of the National Elections Commission. Voting takes place the day before the election and on the day of the election itself, that is, on the 8th and 9th of June.

I don’t live abroad, but I will be outside Portugal on that date.

If you do not have an address abroad but are not in national territory during the European elections, you can opt for the mobility voting option, going to a consulate or embassy between the 28th and 30th of May.

And in the Madeira regions? How can I vote early?

Early mobility voting is more restricted in Madeira’s regional elections, and voters must meet one of these criteria: if they cannot vote on election day “for professional reasons”; hospitalized and imprisoned patients; students or if they are abroad. Step by step.

If the voter is prevented from voting for professional reasons, they must vote in advance at the municipal council of the area where they are registered, between the 16th and 21st of May. In addition to the identification document, the voter must carry proof of proof from their employer or superior that proves that they are unable to vote on May 26th.

Hospitalized patients and prisoners can request to vote until May 6th and will be able to do so between May 13th and 15th.

In turn, students can also request to vote in advance. To do this, they must request the necessary documentation to vote by May 6th from the mayor of the municipality in whose area they are registered. You will be able to vote on May 17th in the town hall of the municipality in which the voting establishment is located.

Madeirans who are abroad at the time of the elections can vote on the 14th and 16th of May (for one of the reasons provided for by law) and vote in advance at embassies or consulates previously defined by the MNE.

I continue to have doubts. How can I get more information?