Voting in municipal elections

EU citizens who are residents in Benahavis (Spain) and aged 18 or over on the day of an election are entitled to vote. To vote, you must be registered on the padrón and have explicitly expressed a wish to vote in municipal elections by signing on the electoral roll (censo electoral). Those people who have already registered to vote and still live in Benahavis (Spain) keep their voting status and do not need to re-register.

The Electoral Census Office has sent a letter by post to people who are registered on the padrón who have not previously registered to vote.
Residents in Benahavis (Spain) not signed on the padrón:

If you wish to vote you can visit your town hall to sign on the padrón. At the same time, you can also declare that you wish to vote in the upcoming elections and get signed onto the electoral roll. For more information see our page about signing on the padrón.
Residents in Benahavis (Spain) registered on the padrón but not registered to vote:

You should soon receive a letter from the Electoral Census Office. To confirm that you wish to vote, you can sign the declaration on the bottom of the letter and send it back to your corresponding Office. Over 750,000 letters have already been sent out. If your address is not up-to-date on the padrón, you can contact the town hall to make sure you get your letter.

In some areas, particularly newer urbanizaciones where addresses have been re-designated (and where previous postal campaigns resulted in large numbers of registration forms being returned by the post office) town halls will not automatically send out voter registration forms. Should you not receive your registration form you can complete the form found here, and register by presenting the form in person together with your passport .

If you are not sure if you are on the voting register, contact your local town hall.
Residents in Benahavis (Spain) already registered to vote:

You do not need to re-register on the electoral roll.

Confirming you are registered to vote

If you want to confirm that you will be able to vote in the local elections in May 2011 you may do so as follows:

* Telephone your provincial Electoral Census Office on 901101900. You should have your padrón, your passport number and your NIE/Residencia details to hand. An interpreter may be required as the staff generally speak Spanish.
* Send an email to the Census Office at sede.censoelectoral@ine.es quoting your name, the address on your padrón, your passport number and your NIE number. Emails are accepted in English and a response may be sent in Spanish.
* Post your enquiry via the Census Office website. Quote your name, the address on your padrón, your passport number and your NIE number. Queries are accepted in English and a response will be sent in Spanish.
* Check at your Town Hall. According to the Census Regulations (Real Decreto 605/1999 de 16 de abril, de Regulación Complementaria de los procesos electorales, Sexta reclamaciones administrativas) ….. “At any time you can check your registration in the electoral census and make appropriate claims under the provisions article 38 de la Ley Orgánica 5/1985, del Régimen Electoral General (LA LEY 1596/1985). Both queries and complaints may be filed with the Ayuntamientos, consular offices or at the Provincial Offices of Electoral Census Bureau”. The census office has explained that the town hall may fulfil its obligation to resolve your enquiry by phoning the Electoral Census Office on your behalf on 901101900. If your town hall is not in a position to supply the required information and will not assist by contacting the census office on your behalf, we strongly recommend that you register a formal complaint. We also advise that you note the details stated in this paragraph in case your town hall is unaware of the regulations.
* Visit your local Census office and make a personal enquiry. Remember to take your padrón certificate, passport and NIE/Residencia details with you. The staff generally speak Spanish so an interpreter may be required. Details of your local Census Office can be found on the Electoral Census Office website

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