Although early voting entails more restrictions during municipal elections, it remains an option under specific conditions. So, how does one proceed?
Early voting is available to “registered voters in Portugal who, for professional reasons, are away on the day of the election“, as well as “students registered in Portugal and enrolled in educational institutions located in districts, autonomous regions, or islands different from those where they are registered on the electoral roll,” as stated by the National Election Commission (CNE).
These last specifications also apply to the incarcerated population not deprived of political rights and to hospitalized patients.
So, who qualifies for the exception?
This provision applies to military personnel, internal security force agents, firefighters, civil protection agents, maritime and aeronautical workers, long-distance rail and road workers, members of official state delegations, representatives of national teams, and any workers who, “on the day of the election, are unable to reach the polling station due to an unavoidable function imperative in the country or abroad.”
How to proceed?
Voters should contact the mayor of the municipality where they are registered and express the intent to vote early between October 2 and 7.
To do so, they must present their civil identification document (citizen card or ID card) and a “document proving the stated impediment, signed by their superior, employer, or another person sufficiently verifying the impediment to exercising the right to vote,” depending on the case.
After voting, they will receive a proof of voting document.
What about students, inmates, and hospitalized patients?
Students, incarcerated individuals not deprived of political rights, and hospitalized patients can, until September 22, request voting documentation from the mayor of the municipality where they are registered by electronic means or postal service, sending a “copy of their civil identification document (citizen card or ID card)” and a “document proving the impediment,” depending on the situation.
The mayor must then send the voting documentation by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, by September 25, including the documents accompanying the request.
From September 29 to October 2, the mayor (or the vice mayor or a duly accredited councilor) of the educational institution, prison, or health unit will collect the votes in person.
You can verify your registration on the electoral roll:
- At www.recenseamento.pt
- Via SMS (free) to 3838, with the message RE (space) ID/CC number (space) birth date (yyyymmdd) – Example: RE 72386718 19820803
- At the Parish Council of your residence
It should be noted that, in the municipal elections on October 12, populations will elect the governing bodies of 308 Municipal Councils, 308 Municipal Assemblies, and assemblies of 3,221 parishes. Another 37 parishes will choose their executives in citizen assemblies, as they have fewer than 150 voters.
