The Electoral Administration is responsible for ensuring the transparency and objectivity of the electoral process and the principle of equality.
The Electoral Administration is made up of the Polling Stations and the Electoral Boards (Central, Provincial, Area and, as appropriate, of an Autonomous Community).
The Central Electoral Board is based in Madrid; it is the only permanent body and is composed of 8 magistrates of the Supreme Court and 5 active professors of Law or Political Science and Sociology.
The Provincial Electoral Boards are based in the provincial capitals and are made up of three members, Magistrates of the corresponding Provincial Court, and two members proposed by the Central Electoral Board from among full professors of Law or Political Science and Sociology or renowned lawyers residing in the province.
The Area Electoral Boards are based in the main towns of the judicial districts and made up of three members, judges of first instance, and two members appointed by the Provincial Electoral Board from among graduates in Law or Political Science and Sociology residing in the jurisdiction.
The Area Boards of Ceuta and Melilla also perform the functions corresponding to the Provincial Electoral Boards in their respective districts.
In addition to the Central Electoral Board, which is based in Madrid, there is a Provincial Electoral Board in each province.
Finally, the Area Electoral Boards are located in the 303 towns heading the jurisdictions in the 1979 elections. The Area Boards of Ceuta and Melilla also perform the functions corresponding to the Provincial Electoral Boards in their respective districts.