Exterior
Polling stations where voting takes place must meet the necessary conditions for this purpose.
They must preferably be publicly owned and accessible to people with disabilities.
In those places where blind or visually impaired people who have requested to make use of the accessible voting procedure exercise their right to vote, there must be a specific, accessible and adequate space that guarantees the voter’s privacy and that is as close as possible to the polling station where the voter is meant to exercise their right to vote
The polling station must have suitable conditions for holding the ballot. There should be sufficient tables and chairs for election officers, appropriate lighting, stationery and signage.
It will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Presiding officer and poll clerks
At least two station members must be present throughout polling day.
The presiding officer must have a degree, vocational training or school leaving certificate. They are the highest authority within the polling station.
They can request assistance from law enforcement agencies.
The presiding officer and the poll clerks are appointed by public draw from among all the people registered in the corresponding district, who are under 70 years of age and who can read and write.
The posts of presiding officer and poll clerk are compulsory, although people of age 65 and above may resign within seven days of their appointment.
They are entitled to a 5-hour reduction of their working hours on the day following the election.
They will receive an allowance of 65 euros.
They will be covered by Social Security for the entire working day.
Polling agents
They are the representatives of the candidates before the polling station. They perform their duties only at the station to which they are registered. They participate in station deliberations only in an advisory capacity.
Polling agents of each candidate registered with the polling station may replace each other, make claims, and request certifications.
They may display emblems or stickers of the party they represent without this constituting electoral advertising.
They vote at the polling station to which they are registered, even if they are not included on the electoral roll of that polling station, provided that they are registered on the electoral roll of the constituency corresponding to that polling station. Otherwise, they may only vote by post at the polling station in which they are registered.
Proxies
They are representatives of a party in all electoral acts and operations.
They may have free access to all polling stations, review the voting and counting of votes and make complaints and claims.
They may display emblems or stickers of the party they represent without this constituting electoral advertising.
They must exercise their right to vote at the polling station where they are registered.
Administration representatives
These are the people designated by the administration to collect information on the opening of polling stations, turnout data and election results.
This information is transmitted to the body in charge of the provisional count (Ministry of the Interior) for dissemination once the data has been totalled.
They provide assistance to the polling station in an auxiliary capacity and do not form part of it, nor can they participate in its deliberations.
Ballot boxes
At each polling station there will be a ballot box for each of the processes called.
They must be clearly identified. For this purpose, the election identification corresponding to the process to be held must be affixed to the front and back of the ballot box. They must be closed and sealed.
In the event of breakage or damage to the seal, and if unable to obtain another ballot box from the district election board in a timely manner, the presiding officer of the polling station must ensure its closure by any means within their power.
Handbook for polling station staff
A handbook will be delivered to the people attending the polling stations, along with the notification of their designation as presiding officer or poll clerk, supervised by the central electoral board and approved by agreement of the Council of Ministers.
List of the electoral roll of the polling station
Among the electoral documentation, each polling station has a list of voters registered at that polling station.
It will also have a list of the street directory of the electoral district to which the polling station belongs and the alphabetical order of the initials of the first surname of the voters it contains, for public display in the polling station.
Other electoral documents
Voting booth and auxiliary table
The booth must be in the same room where the voting takes place and in an intermediate place between the entrance and the polling desk.
Ballot papers will be placed inside (in the pigeonholes) and on an auxiliary table near it.
Envelopes and ballot papers
A sufficient number of envelopes and ballot papers for all candidates must be available throughout the day.
The presiding officer must interrupt the voting if they see there is a lack of ballot papers for any candidate, and must resume the voting when they are supplied.
Electors
Spaniards of legal age who are registered on the electoral roll of residents in Spain and who are not deprived of the right to vote may vote in these elections.
Spaniards registered in the Electoral Roll of Absent Residents (CERA) and temporary residents abroad (ERTA) can also vote.
People with nationalities of another European Union country or citizens of countries that have signed a reciprocity agreement, provided that they are registered in a Spanish district and have expressed their wish to vote in Spain.
Electors
Documents can be Spanish or foreign as long as they are originals and include a photograph. Photocopies are not valid.