Municipalities

The following can vote for the election of local authority bodies:

a) Portuguese citizens over 18 years of age who are registered in the Portuguese electoral register, in the area of the respective local authority (articles 2, no. 1, paragraph a) and 4, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies);

b) EU citizens who are not nationals of the Portuguese state, when they legally enjoy the same rights as Portuguese citizens in their state of origin and are registered in the Portuguese electoral register, in the area of the respective local authority (art. 2, no. 1, paragraph b) and 4, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies);

c) Citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries with legal residence in Portugal for more than 2 years when they legally enjoy the same rights as Portuguese citizens in their state of origin and are registered in the Portuguese electoral register, in the area of the respective local authority – Brazil and Cape Verde – (articles 2, no. 1, paragraph c) and 4, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies and Declaration no. 105/2025/2 - Joint MNE/MAI Declaration published in the Diário da República on 15 May);

d) Other foreign citizens residing in Portugal for more than 3 years, as long as they are nationals of countries that, under conditions of reciprocity, grant active electoral capacity to Portuguese residents there, in accordance with Declaration no. 105/2025/2 - Joint MNE/MAI Declaration published in the Diário da República on 15 May.

1 — Active electoral capacity (right to vote):

a) Member States of the European Union;

b) Brazil and Cape Verde;

c) Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela.

2 — Passive electoral capacity (right to be a candidate and elected):

a) Member States of the European Union;

b) Brazil and Cape Verde;

c) Colombia and the United Kingdom.

(Declaration no. 105/2025/2 - Joint MNE/MAI Declaration published in the Diário da República of 15 May)

All national citizens who have a Citizen Card or Identity Card, when they turn 17, are unofficially and automatically registered in the electoral register, on a provisional basis, in the parish corresponding to the address shown on their identification document.

(articles 3, no. 2 and 34, no. 1, of the Electoral Registration Law (ER Law)).

Yes, if you are a Portuguese citizen residing in the national territory, as you were automatically registered at the age of 17, on a provisional basis, becoming an effective voter on the date you turn 18.

If you are a foreign citizen, you can also vote if you have voluntarily registered on the Portuguese electoral register at the age of 17.

(articles 2 and 4, of LEOAL and articles 3, no. 2 and 27, no. 1 and 3, of the Electoral Registration Law (ER Law)).

Registration in the voter registration is automatic for all citizens over 17 years of age, as well as transfers resulting from the change of address of citizens holding a Citizen Card.

However, if you still have a valid Identity Card, with an updated address, you must go to the parish council in your respective field of residence, and register there in the electoral register.

(articles 3, no. 2 and 9, no. 1 and 2, of the Electoral Registration Law (ER Law)).

You must update your residence on your Citizen Card, with the transfer of your voter registration registration being carried out automatically.

It should be noted that voter registration update operations are suspended on the 60th day preceding each election or referendum, meaning that only updates resulting from Citizen Cards that have been collected and activated by that date will be covered. Transfers resulting from a change of address on the Citizen Card that is collected and activated beyond that date, are only made from the day following the date of the election or referendum (the date on which the updating of the operations of the voter registration) so, in that situation, in that electoral event, voters will still have to vote in the parish of their previous residence.

(articles 3, no. 2, 5, no. 3 and 9, no. 1, of the Electoral Registration Law (ER Law))

The right to vote is exercised in the place where you are registered and which, in this case, corresponds to your previous address. Only after updating the address on the Citizen Card will your voter registration registration be automatically transferred to the parish corresponding to the new address.

(articles 9, no. 1, 10, no. 2 and 47, of the Electoral Registration Law (ER Law))

ATTENTION: This change in the voter registration can only be carried out if the address update is activated by the 60th day before the election, as the voter registration update operations are suspended on that date and will only be resumed the following day to the election.

If your Citizen Card has an address indicated abroad, you must, as quickly as possible, update your address on that identification document. As soon as that change is made and activated, your registration in national territory will be unofficially and automatically carried out in the parish corresponding to the indicated address.

ATTENTION: This change in the voter registration can only be carried out if the address update is activated by the 60th day before the election, as the voter registration update operations are suspended on that date and will only be resumed the following day to the election.

No. The right to vote in the election of local authority bodies is exercised in person only by voters registered in the electoral register in the area of the respective local authority.

(articles 4 and 101 of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, as long as you are registered in the Portuguese electoral register and are a national of a country where active electoral capacity is recognized for Portuguese citizens.

(article 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

See FAQs for voter registration 38 and 39

You can do so at the services responsible for issuing the Citizen Card that operate, in Portugal, at the Institute of Registries and Notaries, namely at Citizens' Stores and abroad, at diplomatic representations, posts and Portuguese consular sections.

Alternatively, you can also do so via the Internet, www.eportugal.gov.pt or at www.portaldoeleitor.pt.

ATTENTION: This update only takes effect after confirming the change of address, after receiving the confirmation letter.

You can obtain this information, in the fifteen days before the election:

at the Parish Council of your area of residence;

at the City Council in your area of residence;

via the Internet at https://recenseamento.pt;

by SMS (write the following message: RE <space> civil identification number without check. digit <space> date of birth YYYYMMDD example: RE 1444880 19531007 and dial 3838); or

through the Voter Support Line: 808 206 206.

With the publication of Law No. 47/2018, of August 13th (Law that amended and republished the Electoral Census Law), the voter number was eliminated, with the electoral rolls of each parish (and posted, when exists) to be organized alphabetically.

Therefore, on the day of the election to exercise your right to vote, when appearing before the board, simply indicate your name and hand the civil identification document to the president of the board.

In the absence of a civil identification document, you can identify yourself through any other official document that contains an updated photograph, or through two voting citizens who attest, under oath of honor, your identity, or even through unanimous recognition of the members of the table.

Political parties, coalitions of political parties and groups of voting citizens.

(Article 16, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The lists of candidates are presented before the judge of the generic court with jurisdiction in the respective municipality, except when the same is covered by a local civil court, in which case the lists are presented before the respective judge.

The lists of candidates can also be delivered to the local court in the respective municipality, which, through the respective secretariat services, forwards them on the same day, for the same purposes, to the competent judge.

(Article 20, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Applications must be submitted by the 55th day prior to the date set for the election

(article 20, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Applications must be accompanied by the following documents:

List containing the indication of the election in question, the identification of the party, coalition or group of citizens proposing and the identification of the candidates and the representative of the list and, in the case of a coalition, the indication of the party that proposes each of the candidates;

Declaration of candidacy, signed jointly or separately by the candidates, which must state, under oath, that they are not covered by any cause of ineligibility nor appear on more than one list of candidates for the same body, that they accept the candidacy for the party, coalition or group of citizens proposing the list and who agree with the designation of the representative indicated on it.

Each list must be accompanied by a certificate or public form of certificate from the Constitutional Court, proving the registration of the political party and its date or, in the case of a coalition, a certificate of legality and annotation of the coalition issued by the Constitutional Court.

In the case of candidacy by a group of citizens, a declaration of proposal (which corresponds to the list of proponents) and a certificate of registration in the electoral register of each of the candidates and the representative are added.

The municipal bodies to be elected are the municipal council, the municipal assembly and the parish assembly.

As long as they are registered in the electoral register:

• Portuguese voting citizens, as well as Brazilian citizens with equal political rights;

• Voting citizens of member states of the European Union, when the same rights are legally enjoyed by Portuguese citizens in their State of origin;

• Voting citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries who have resided in Portugal for more than 4 years, when the same rights are legally enjoyed by Portuguese citizens in their respective State of origin;

• Voting citizens with legal residence in Portugal for more than 5 years, as long as they are nationals of countries that, under conditions of reciprocity, grant passive electoral capacity to Portuguese residents there.

The Government publishes in the Official Gazette the list of countries whose citizens have passive electoral capacity recognized - Declaration no. 29/2021, of March 17, 2021 (MNE/MAI Joint Declaration published in the Diário da República, March 25th , which establishes that they have passive electoral capacity in elections for local authority bodies:

a) Member States of the European Union;

b) Brazil and Cape Verde;

c) United Kingdom.)

(Article 5, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. The following cannot be candidates for local authority bodies:

The President of the Republic;

The Ombudsman;

The judges of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Auditors;

The Attorney General of the Republic;

Judicial magistrates and the Public Prosecutor's Office;

Members of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, the Superior Council of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the National Elections Commission and the High Authority for Social Communication;

Military personnel and agents of militarized forces of permanent staff, in effective service, as well as agents of services and security forces, while providing active service;

The inspector general and deputy inspectors general of Finance, the inspector general and deputy inspectors general of Territorial Administration and the director general and deputy directors general of the Court of Auditors;

The secretary of the National Elections Commission;

The secretary general and deputy secretary general of the Electoral Administration of the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;

The Director General of Taxes;

Bankrupt and insolvent individuals, unless rehabilitated;

Foreign voting citizens who, as a result of a decision in accordance with the law of their State of origin, have been deprived of the right to active or passive suffrage.

The following cannot yet be candidates for local authority bodies in the electoral districts where they exercise functions or jurisdiction:

Finance directors and heads of finance departments;

Justice secretaries;

Ministers of any religion or cult;

Employees of local authority bodies or entities constituted by them or in which they hold a majority position, who perform management functions, except in the case of mandatory suspension of functions from the date of submission of the candidate list in which they are included;

The following are also not eligible for the local authority bodies in question:

Concessionaires or service concession petitioners from the respective municipality;

Debtors in arrears of the local authority in question and their respective guarantors;

Members of corporate bodies, managers and industry or capital partners of commercial or civil companies, as well as independent professionals in isolated practice or in an irregular company who provide services or have a contract with the authority that is not fully fulfilled or not executed continued, unless they cease until the moment the application is submitted.

(Articles 6 and 7 of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, any employee of local authorities can be a candidate. However, if you perform management functions, you will have to suspend the exercise of these functions from the date of delivery of the candidate list on which you are included.

(Article 7, no. 1, paragraph d), of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, to do this you must be registered in the electoral register and be a citizen of a country that appears on the list that the Government publishes in the Diário da República where passive electoral capacity is recognized.

Yes, when submitting your application you must submit a formal declaration, specifying:

nationality and habitual residence in Portuguese territory;

last residence in the State of origin;

the non-deprivation of passive electoral capacity in the State of origin.

If the candidate is not a national of a member state of the European Union, they must present a residence permit proving residence in Portugal for more than 4 years (if they are a national of a Portuguese-speaking country) or for more than 5 years (if they are of a country that, under conditions of reciprocity, attributes passive electoral capacity).

(articles 5 and 24 of LEOAL and Declaration no. 105/2025/2 - Joint MNE/MAI Declaration published in the Diário da República on 15 May)

No, to be a candidate you just have to be registered in the electoral register in any part of the national territory.

(Article 5, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. No citizen can run for representative bodies of local authorities territorially integrated in different municipalities.

(Article 7, no. 3, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. No citizen can simultaneously run for more than one parish assembly within the same municipality.

(Article 7, no. 3, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes. You can run simultaneously for the City Council and the Municipal Assembly of the same municipality, as long as the lists are presented by the same party, coalition or group of citizens.

After the election and if you are elected in both bodies, you will have to choose to exercise functions in the municipal council (exclusively, because it is incompatible with the exercise of functions in the other government body) or to exercise functions in the parish assembly.

(Articles 7.º no. 3 and 221.º, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. No one can be a candidate simultaneously on lists presented by different parties, coalitions or groups of citizens.

(Article 16.º no. 6, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

You must appear as the 1st candidate on a candidate list for the Parish Assembly, and be elected, since the President of the Board is the citizen who heads the list with the most votes in the election of that body.

(art. 24, of Law no. 169/99, of September 18)

Yes. Citizens aged 17 are provisionally registered in the electoral register and can join the list of candidates for local bodies as long as they turn 18 by election day.

(art. 5.º no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies and articles 3.º, no. 2, art. 27.º, no. 1 and 35.º, of the ER Law)

Effective candidates, as well as substitutes at the legally required minimum (number not less than one third of effective candidates, rounded up), have the right to be exempt from performing their respective functions, whether public or private, during the campaign period election, counting this time for all purposes, including the right to remuneration, as effective service time.

(Article 8, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Any candidate may withdraw from their candidacy up to 48 hours before election day, by means of a declaration signed by them with a notarized signature, whilst maintaining the validity of the list.

(Article 36, no. 3, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Any list can withdraw from candidacy up to 48 hours before election day. The withdrawal must be communicated, by the proposing party or coalition, or by the first proponent, in the case of a list presented by a group of citizens, to the judge, who, in turn, communicates it to the president of the municipal council.

(Article 36, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Each list must contain a number of effective candidates equal to the number of mandates to be filled in the respective body and a number of substitute candidates of not less than one third, rounded up.

(Articles 12, no. 1 and 23, no. 9, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies).

Yes, political parties, coalitions and groups of competing citizens must designate a representative from among the voters registered in their respective circle for the purposes of representation in operations relating to the assessment of eligibility and in subsequent operations.

(art. 22, no. 1 of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies).

Yes, the representative's address is always indicated in the application process and when he does not reside in the municipality, he chooses his address there to be notified there.

(Article 22.º no. 2, of LEOAL)

No. The lists of candidates are presented before the respective judge, with no registration or prior communication required.

(Article 20, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies).

A group of citizens can apply to all local government bodies, and must submit an application process for each body.

(Article 16, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The name/denomination of the group of citizens cannot contain more than six words, nor be part of the official denominations of political parties or coalitions of parties with legal existence, expressions currently used to identify or name a political party, nor contain expressions directly relating to any religion or religious denomination, or national or local institution.

The name of groups of voting citizens cannot be based exclusively on the name of a natural person and can only include the name of a natural person if this is that of the first candidate for the respective body, except in the case of groups of voting citizens who are simultaneously candidates for the bodies. city council and municipal assembly. The denomination also cannot use the words party and coalition.

(Article 23, no. 4, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes. However, the symbol of the group of citizens cannot be confused with or have a graphic or phonetic relationship with institutional symbols, heraldry or national or local emblems, with symbols of political parties or legally existing coalitions or other groups of voting citizens, nor with religious images or symbols. The symbols and acronyms of different groups of citizens voting candidates in the geographical area of the same municipality must be distinct.

If the group of citizens does not present a symbol, or if it is deemed definitively inadmissible by the court, it is assigned a Roman number, from I to XX, drawn by the competent judge, on the day following the deadline for submitting applications. .

(Articles 23, paragraphs 2 and 4 and 30, paragraph 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

See answer to FAQ 16

(Articles 23 and 24 of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The lists of candidates for each body are proposed by the number of voting citizens corresponding to 3% of voters registered in the respective electoral register.

However, they are always corrected so as not to result in a number of proposing citizens lower than:

a) 25, in the case of candidatures for a parish body with fewer than 500 voters;

b) 50 or more than 2000, in the case of candidacies for bodies in the other parishes;

c) 50, in the case of candidacies for a municipal body with fewer than 1500 voters;

d) 150, in the case of candidatures for a municipal body with fewer than 4,500 voters;

e) 250 or more than 4,000, in the case of candidacies for bodies in the remaining municipalities.

(Article 19, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

You can do so on paper (subscription form) or electronically at https://www.portaldacandidatura.mai.gov.pt/.

The list must first have submitted its candidacy on the electronic platform and the proposer to support it must validate their identity using the Digital Mobile Key, or with the citizen's card and its PIN code, through the citizen's card reader, or equivalent means of electronic identification. The platform thus ensures that voter registration is validated.

Yes, you can within 10 days of submitting it on the platform, as long as the application has not yet been filed with the court.

Candidate delegates on election day are responsible for monitoring and supervising voting operations and tabulating results.

(Article 88, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Delegates enjoy the following powers:

Occupy the seats closest to the polling station table, so that they can monitor all electoral operations;
Be heard and clarified about all issues raised during the operation of the polling station, whether during the voting phase or the counting phase;

Consult copies of the electoral rolls used by the board at all times;

Present, orally or in writing, complaints, protests or counter-protests regarding voting operations;

Sign the minutes and initial, seal and seal all documents relating to voting operations;

Obtain certificates relating to the voting and tabulation operations that require.

(Article 88, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. Candidate delegates may not be registered in the electoral register in the parish corresponding to the polling station or section where they will carry out their duties.

(Article 86, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies).

Yes, you can.

No, the effective delegate and the substitute cannot perform functions simultaneously. In the absence of the effective delegate, his deputy performs duties and vice versa.

No, candidate delegates cannot be appointed to replace absent panel members.

(Article 88, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. The President of the Board performs functions incompatible with those of a delegate. On the day of the election itself, the President of the Board is responsible for directing the Board's services in order to ensure its normal functioning, with a view to providing the necessary information to voters and monitoring the process of establishing polling stations in the most efficient way possible.

(Article 104, paragraph a), of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, candidate delegates enjoy the right to be exempt from professional or teaching activity on the day of the elections and the following day, and for this purpose they must prove the exercise of their functions, by presenting the credential and the certificate issued and signed by the President of the respective board.

(Article 89, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, the credential remains valid for the exercise of functions on the date of the repeat election.

Members of polling stations must be registered in the parish, or failing that, registered in the respective municipality, where they perform their duties.

(Article 75, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The polling station members are appointed by agreement between the representatives of the candidates present at a meeting held for this purpose at the headquarters of the respective parish council or, in the absence of agreement, by drawing lots to be held at the town hall by the Mayor.

(article 77, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The meeting to choose the board members takes place at the headquarters of the Parish Council between the 20th and 22nd day prior to the day designated for the elections. Representatives of the candidates, duly accredited for this purpose, must be present at this meeting.

(article 77, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. The President of the Parish Council provides access to the Parish Council's facilities, provides logistical support and transmits the results to the City Council, being certain that only representatives of the candidates are present at this meeting, in their own right.

In the absence of agreement, the representatives of the candidates indicate in writing, by the 19th day before the election, to the President of the Chamber, the names of two voters for each place still to be filled, so that the choice can be made between them. , within 24 hours, through a draw.

(article 77, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, they can.

Any voter may complain against the choice of panel members before the judge of the court of generic jurisdiction with jurisdiction in the respective municipality, except when it is covered by a local civil court, in which case the complaint is presented before the respective judge, in the two days following the posting of the notice containing the names of the chosen polling station members.

(Article 78, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, candidates can be members of the tables, except when they are subject to the duties of neutrality and impartiality, namely when they are members of State bodies, Autonomous Regions or local authorities, with the duty to refrain from carrying out any acts that favor or harm one candidacy to the detriment or advantage of another or others and, the duty to ensure equal treatment and impartiality in any intervention in electoral procedures.

(Article 41, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No, members of the executive bodies of local authorities, as well as deputies, members of the Government, members of Regional Governments, Representatives of the Republic and representatives of candidacies cannot be appointed polling station members.

(Article 76, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

You can register with the electoral agents exchange, at your city council or parish council, or on the platform provided by the SGMAI Electoral Administration at https://www.portaldoeleitor.pt. It should be noted, however, that the use of the pool of electoral agents is only activated when the number of citizens selected in general terms is insufficient, either in the designation phase or on the day of the election itself, to replace absent polling station members.

(Articles 2, 3, 4 and 8, of Law no. 22/99, of April 21 – Law that regulates the creation of electoral agent exchanges)

Performing the duties of a polling station member, which constitutes a fundamental civic duty, is mandatory, except for reasons of force majeure or just cause.

The justifying reasons for impediment are as follows:

Age over 65 years old;

Illness or physical impossibility proven by the municipal health delegate;

Change of residence to the area of another municipality confirmed by the parish council of the new residence;

Absence abroad, duly proven; and,

Carrying out a professional activity that cannot be postponed, duly proven by a superior.

(Article 80, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

In this situation, you must communicate to the Mayor of the City Council, immediately and no later than three days before the election, justifying, with justification, the reason for this impossibility.

(Article 80, no. 4, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, polling station members have the right to be exempt from professional or teaching activities on election day and the following day. To this end, they must present the respective appointment license and certificate issued and signed by the President of the respective polling station.

(Article 81, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Proof of the performance of duties as a board member is provided to the employer, through the presentation of the appointment license and a certificate issued and signed by the President of the respective board.

(Article 81, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The members of the tables are awarded a bonus, exempt from taxation, in a determined amount in accordance with the terms established in article 9 of Law no. 22/99, of April 21st – Law that regulates the creation of scholarships election agents.

Yes. The typographic proofs of the voting ballots are displayed in the city council building until the 33rd day before the election and for three days.

(article 94, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

There are three voting forms in this election, as they are intended to elect three municipal bodies (City Council, Municipal Assembly and Parish Assembly).

(article 92, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The three voting slips are different colors. White color for the parish assembly, yellow color for the municipal assembly and green for the city council.

In addition to the difference in color, the graphic symbol of the body to be elected is printed on each ballot paper.

(articles 91, no. 1 and 92, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

City Council	Municipal Assembly	Parish Assembly

No. This law does not cover the exercise of the right to vote in advance on mobility.

Yes, you can vote in advance. To this end, you must address the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered, between the 10th and 5th day before the election, expressing your desire to exercise your right to vote in advance.

You must take:

Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as a Driving License or Passport;
Document proving the impediment issued by the superior or employer, or another document that sufficiently proves the impediment.

(articles 117, no. 1, paragraph g) and 118, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, you can vote in advance. If you are a student at an educational institution and are registered in an establishment located in a district, autonomous region or island other than those where you are registered in the electoral register.

You must request the necessary documentation to vote by the 20th day before the election, by post or electronic means, to the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered.

Along with the application you must send:

• Copy of Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as Driving License or Passport;

• Declaration issued by the management of the educational establishment certifying your admission or attendance.

Until the 17th day before the election, the mayor sends, by post, the necessary documentation to exercise the right to vote and returns the documents that accompanied the request.

Between the 13th and 10th day prior to the election, you must wait for the mayor, or his representative, to appear at the educational establishment, to exercise your right to vote there.

It should be noted that some municipalities have adopted other procedures with a view to speeding up the operations of this type of early voting, which is why it is suggested that, in advance, you contact the respective services to obtain information and guarantee the exercise of your right to vote.

(articles 117, no. 2 and 120, of LEOAL)

Yes, you can vote in advance. To this end, you must address the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered, between the 10th and 5th day prior to the election, expressing your desire to exercise your right to vote in advance.

You must take:

Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as a Driving License or Passport;
Document proving the impediment issued by the hierarchical superior, or another document that sufficiently proves the impediment.

(articles 117, no. 1, paragraph a) and 118, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, you can vote in advance. To this end, you must address the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered, between the 10th and 5th day prior to the election, expressing your desire to exercise your right to vote in advance.

You must take:

Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as a Driving License or Passport;

Document proving the impediment issued by the hierarchical superior, or another document that sufficiently proves the impediment.

(articles 117, no. 1, paragraph a) and 118, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, you can vote in advance. To this end, you must address the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered, between the 10th and 5th day prior to the election, expressing your desire to exercise your right to vote in advance.

You must take:

Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as a Driving License or Passport;

Document proving the impediment issued by the hierarchical superior, or another document that sufficiently proves the impediment.

(articles 117, no. 1, paragraph a) and 118, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, you can vote in advance. To this end, you must address the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered, between the 10th and 5th day prior to the election, expressing your desire to exercise your right to vote in advance.

You must take:

Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as a Driving License or Passport;

Document proving the impediment issued by the hierarchical superior, or another document that sufficiently proves the impediment.

(articles 117, no. 1, paragraph d) and 118, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, you can vote in advance.

You must request the necessary documentation to vote by the 20th day before the election, by post or electronic means, to the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered.

Along with the application you must send:

Copy of Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as Driving License or Passport;
Document proving the impediment issued by the director of the prison establishment.

Until the 17th day before the election, the mayor sends, by post, the necessary documentation to exercise the right to vote and returns the documents that accompanied the request.

Between the 13th and 10th day before the election, you must wait for the president of the municipal council, or his representative, to appear at the prison, to exercise your right to vote.

(articles 117, no. 1, paragraph f) and 119, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, you can vote in advance.

You must request the necessary documentation to vote by the 20th day before the election, by post or electronic means, to the mayor of the municipality in whose area you are registered.

Along with the application you must send:

Copy of Citizen Card, Identity Card or other identifying document, such as Driving License or Passport;
Document proving the impediment issued by the director of the prison establishment.

Until the 17th day before the election, the mayor sends, by post, the necessary documentation to exercise the right to vote and returns the documents that accompanied the request.

Between the 13th and 10th day before the election, you must wait for the president of the municipal council, or his representative, to appear at the prison, to exercise your right to vote.

(articles 117, no. 1, paragraph f) and 119, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. This reason (holidays) is not included in the law as a justifying reason for exercising the right to vote in advance.

No. This law does not cover the exercise of the right to vote in advance abroad.

The voter, at the polling station, must indicate his or her name, identifying himself or herself with a Citizen Card or Identity Card, or failing that, a document containing an up-to-date photograph that is usually used for identification.

(article 115, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

You can vote with the unanimous recognition of the panel members.

(article 115, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

You can obtain this information, in the fifteen days before the election:

at the Parish Council of your area of residence;
at the City Council in your area of residence;

via the Internet at https://recenseamento.pt;

by SMS (write the following message: RE <space> civil identification number without check. digit <space> date of birth YYYYMMDD example: RE 1444880 19531007 and dial 3838);

or through the Voter Support Line: 808 206 206.

Voting takes place, without interruption, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. After the voting closing time (7pm) only voters who are present at the polling station, in line to vote, can vote.

(articles 105, no. 1 and 110, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. The vote is cast directly and in person by the voter at the polling station corresponding to the place where he or she is registered in the electoral register.

(articles 100, no. 1 and 101, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. Voting is exercised in person and no form of representation or delegation is permitted.

(article 100, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Accompanied voting is provided for when, in relation to voters who are affected by a notable illness or physical disability, the board verifies that they are unable to exercise their right to vote by their means. In this case, voters can vote accompanied by another voter chosen by them, who guarantees the faithful expression of their vote and who is obliged to maintain absolute secrecy.

When the polling station has doubts about the need for the voter to exercise their right to vote accompanied, it may require that they be presented with a certificate proving the impossibility of carrying out voting acts, issued by the doctor who exercises powers as a health authority in the area of the municipality and authenticated with the seal of the respective service.

(article 116, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No, this possibility is not provided for in the Electoral Law for the election of Local Authority bodies, it only exists in elections for the President of the Republic, Assembly of the Republic and European Parliament.

The voter enters the voting chamber located at the polling station/section and there, alone, marks with a cross, on each ballot paper, the box corresponding to the candidacy for which he or she is voting. Then fold each ballot paper into quarters, with the printed part facing inwards.

(article 115, no. 4, of of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

You must ask the Chairman of the Board for another one and return the first one to him. The President writes the “unused” note on the returned bulletin, initials it and keeps it separately.

(article 115, paragraphs 7 and 8, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No, if you do not intend to vote for any of the bodies to be elected, you must express your desire at the table, with this fact being mentioned in the minutes as an abstention.

(article 115, no. 6, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Inside the polling station and outside it up to a distance of 50m, no one can reveal the direction of their vote.

(article 102.º, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No, the ballot box cannot leave the polling station or section. As a last resort, the board may allow, when absolutely necessary, and once delegates from the lists present have been heard, the voter to mark the ballot papers outside the voting chamber, in a location (within the polling section) where it is Voting secrecy and supervision by the aforementioned delegates were strictly preserved.

Voting may be interrupted in the following situations:

When the minimum number (3) of panel members are not present;

When the chairman of the board or his deputy is not present;

When a serious calamity or serious disturbance of public order occurs that affects the genuineness of voting;

When any disturbance occurs or when there is any disturbance that prevents the normal functioning of voting.

Interruption of electoral operations for more than three hours results in the closure of the polling station and the nullity of the vote.

(articles 85 and 109, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, any voter registered at the polling station/section or any of the delegates on the lists can complain in writing to the polling station.

(article 121, no. 1, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The board cannot refuse to receive complaints, and must initial them and attach them to the minutes. Complaints must be subject to deliberation by the board.

(article 121, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. Downloads on the electoral rolls must be made with a ballpoint pen, of any color, in order to make any changes impossible.

In addition to the voters who exercise their right to vote there, candidates, agents, candidate delegates and media professionals duly identified and in the exercise of their functions.

(article 125, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No, electoral propaganda is prohibited inside polling stations/stations and outside them, up to a distance of 50m. Advertising also means the display of symbols, acronyms, signs, badges or stickers on any list.

(article 123, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, in the vicinity of polling stations/stations, agents from polling companies, duly accredited by the National Elections Commission, can survey voters, after they have exercised their right to vote. That is, it is accepted that enumerators can be at a distance of at least 50 m from voting locations, however, they are prohibited from being present inside the rooms where voting operations take place.

(article 126, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. The publication of poll results is prohibited from the end of the electoral campaign until the polls close throughout the national territory.

(art. 10, no. 1 of Law no. 10/2000, of 21 June)

In general terms, no, however the following aspects must be taken into account:

It is prohibited to advertise, directly or indirectly, by any means on the eve and day of the election;

It is prohibited to disturb the regular functioning of polling stations or sections;

Hunting is prohibited on election day (art. 89 of DL no. 201/2005, of 24 November - General Base Law for Hunting).

The holding of these events is not prohibited at all, it is absolutely necessary that they do not disturb or harm the exercise of voters' right to vote and the normal functioning of electoral operations, and must take place in a location sufficiently distant from the polling stations/stations .

Likewise, when holding events that involve the mass movement of voters outside the areas of their respective parishes, the date of elections must be avoided.

Yes, hunting is prohibited under the terms of no. 4 of article 89 of Decree-Law no. 201/2005, of 24 November.

The count consists of determining the results of the election. In this election, the counting is carried out under the following terms:

Local counting is carried out after the end of voting at the polling station/section;

General count consists of counting, within the territorial scope of each municipality, the results obtained in the electoral districts and the allocation of mandates for each of the elected bodies.

(article 128, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

After the polls close, the results are counted at the polling station/section itself, carrying out the following operations:

Counting unused ballot papers and those that were destroyed by voters;

Counting voters based on entries made in the registers;

Opening the ballot box and counting the ballots entered in it, in relation to each local authority body, which, after being counted, must be reinserted into the ballot box. If the number of voters counted by the ballots is not equal to the number of ballots entered in the ballot box, the latter will be the number that prevails;

Publication of a notice indicating the number of ballots entered in the ballot box, which, after being read aloud by the president, will be posted on the main door of the polling station;

Counting of votes relating to the election of each of the municipal bodies, starting with the parish assembly;

Subsequently, one of the scrutineers unfolds the voting slips, one by one, and announces out loud which list was voted, while the other records on a white sheet, or on the download sheets, if possible, on a clearly visible board, the votes assigned for each list, blank votes and invalid votes.

Simultaneously, the voting papers are examined and displayed by the President who, with the help of one of the members, groups them into separate lots, corresponding to each of the voted lists, blank votes and invalid votes;

The President checks the count by counting the ballots from each of the separate batches;

Publication of a notice to be posted on the main door of the building of the assembly or voting section detailing the identification of the municipal body, number of registered voters, number of voters, number of votes attributed to each list, number of blank votes and number of invalid votes.

(articles 129, 130, 131 and 135, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Votes are considered invalid:

One that has a cross in more than one square;

One in which there are doubts regarding the box marked;

Anyone who is marked in an application that has been rejected or withdrawn;

One that contains any cut, drawing, erasure or on which any word has been written;

Early voting whose ballot does not arrive under the legally stipulated conditions or which is received in envelopes that are not properly sealed.

Voting ballots that contain a cross that is not very well designed or that goes outside the square, but that unequivocally signals the voter's will, should not be considered invalid.

(article 133, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

A ballot paper that does not contain any sign in any square is considered a blank vote.

(article 132.º, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

No. Blank votes and invalid votes are not considered validly cast votes, and therefore have no influence on the calculation of the number of votes obtained by each candidate and their conversion into mandates.

(article 13, no. 1, paragraph a), of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes. The secretary of the board prepares the minutes of the voting and local tabulation operations, which must include:

Identification of the electoral district to which the voting assembly or section belongs;

Civil identification numbers and names of board members and delegates of political parties, coalitions and groups of competing citizens;

The location of the assembly or voting section and opening and closing times for voting;

The deliberations taken by the board during voting and counting operations;

The total number of registered voters and non-voters;

The civil identification number of voters who voted in advance;

The number of votes obtained by each list, the number of blank votes and the number of invalid votes;

The number of voting papers on which there has been a complaint or protest;

Counting discrepancies, if any, with precise indication of the differences noted;

The number of complaints, protests and counter-protests attached to the minutes;

Any other occurrences that the board deems pertinent to mention.

The minutes, the electoral rolls, the ballot papers with invalid votes and those on which there have been complaints or protests and other documents relating to the election are delivered by the presiding officers, via postal insurance or in person, against receipt, to the president of the General Tabulation Assembly.

(articles 137 and 140, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The remaining voting ballots, duly packaged and sealed, are entrusted to the custody of the judge of the court of general jurisdiction with jurisdiction in the respective municipality, except when the same is covered by a local civil court, in which case the ballots are entrusted to the custody of the respective judge.

(article 138, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Unused ballot papers and those unused by voters are delivered to the Mayor of the City Council.

(articles 95, no. 2 and 129, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Note: In this election, electoral documentation is collected by members of the security forces requested by the president of the general tabulation assembly and is deposited in the district court building of the respective municipal electoral district.

(article 140, no. 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The president of the general tabulation assembly requests the necessary members of the security forces to collect all electoral material, which will be deposited in the district court building of the respective municipal electoral district.

(articles 95, no. 2, 137, 138, no. 1 and 140, no. 1 and 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The General Tabulation Assembly has the following composition:

A judicial magistrate of civil court or generic jurisdiction based or with jurisdiction in the municipality, or his substitute, chosen whenever possible from among the judicial magistrates of that court, who presides with a casting vote, appointed by the presiding judge of the district court that respects the municipality;

A jurist appointed by the president of the general tabulation assembly;

Two teachers who teach in the municipal area, designated by the respective school delegation;

Four polling station presidents appointed by draw carried out by the President of the Chamber;

A citizen who holds the highest management position in the administrative area of the respective municipal council, who acts as secretary without the right to vote.

(article 142, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The General Tabulation Assembly must be constituted by the day before the day of the election, with a notice being published and posted on the door of the city council building.

(article 144, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

A general tabulation assembly is set up per municipality. In the municipality of Lisbon, four tabulation assemblies can be set up and in other municipalities with more than 200,000 voters, two tabulation assemblies can be set up.

(article 141, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies).

Until the 14th day before the date of the election, the secretary general of internal administration decides on the organization of the general tabulation assemblies.

(article 141, no. 3, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

General tabulation operations begin at 9 am on the 2nd day following the election, at the municipal council.

The general count must be completed by the 4th day after the vote, with the results proclaimed by the president and then published by means of a notice posted on the door of the building where the assembly is held.

(articles 141.º, no. 1, 147.º, no. 1 and 150.º, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

The general count is carried out based on the minutes of polling station operations, electoral registers and other documents that must accompany them.

Previously, the general counting assembly decides on the ballot papers in relation to which there has been a complaint or protest, and checks the ballot papers considered invalid, reassessing them according to a uniform criterion, and correcting, if necessary, the respective count. polling station.

The general tabulation assembly then begins the work, which consists of the following:

Verification of the total number of registered voters and voters;

Verification of the total number of blank votes and invalid votes;

Verification of the total number of votes obtained by each list;

Distribution of mandates across the various lists;

Determination of the candidates elected by each list;

Decision on complaints and protests.

In municipalities where there is more than one tabulation assembly, the aggregation of results is the responsibility of the one chaired by the oldest magistrate or, if applicable, by the oldest citizen.

(articles 146, 148, no. 1 and 149, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes. The minutes must include the results of the respective operations, the complaints, protests and counter-protests presented and the decisions that resulted from them.

The president of the general tabulation assembly sends, on the day after the general tabulation is completed, a copy of the minutes to the National Elections Commission.

(article 151, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, representatives of competing candidates have the right to attend, without voting, the general tabulation work, as well as to present complaints, protests or counter-protests.

(article 143, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Yes, members of the general tabulation assembly enjoy the right to be exempt from their professional or teaching activity, during the period of operation of the respective assembly, upon proof through a document signed by the president of the assembly.

(article 145, of the Electoral Law of Local Government Bodies)

Municipalities

VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTORAL REGISTRATION

APPLICATIONS

GROUPS OF CITIZEN VOTERS

CANDIDACY DELEGATES

TABLE MEMBERS

VOTING LETTER

EARLY VOTE

VOTING AND COLLECTION

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