ARCHIVED - Voter registration request letters start to arrive: this is what you must do to vote in Spain in 2023

Changes in the voting procedure brought about by Brexit means UK expats have to register their wish to vote in the 2023 Municipal Elections

Now that the UK is no longer part of the EU British expats are now recognised as Third Country citizens and those who wish to vote in Municipal Elections have to register before each election in the same way as other Third Country citizens of States with reciprocal voting rights, which includes Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Iceland, Korea, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and New Zealand.

The United Kingdom and Spain signed a reciprocal voting agreement in 2019 giving voting rights to citizens who qualifiy in municipal elections, to qualify you must be a resident of Spain with a current registered address, via the padrón in the municipality where you live and must have resided in Spain for a minimum period of 3 years in order to be able to exercise their right to vote, registration for which must be done before January 15 2023.

To simplify the procedure, the Spanish Censo Office (INE) is sending pre-printed registration forms for those people that their records show qualify for the right to register (see image) when you receive the letter and wish to register your intention to vote you can do this in 2 ways:

1. By post, when you receive the letter cut the form from the rest of the letter where indicated, check the details refer to you (if not make an appointment at your local town hall to correct) at the bottom of the form fill in your NIE number and sign and date in the spaces indicated. Moisten along the bottom of the form where it says “humedecer la zona engomada”, fold the form in half and stick it together. This form can then be taken to the Correos for posting. No stamp is required.
2. Online, which can be done without a Digital Certificate in English by using the CTT code provided in the letter, to proceed click this link, then on the right side of the screen click on “To access NIE-CTT”. On the next page fill in your NIE number and CTT code provided (letters are upper case) and click “Accept”, on the next page your details will appear at the bottom where it says “To declare your intention to vote” click on “Press here”.

On the next page go to the bottom where there is a drop down option next to “Municipal Elections” Click on “Yes” and to confirm your intention to vote click on “Send”.

This will bring you to the final page, at the bottom click “Press here” to register your intention, you will then see a page confirming your voter registration and you will also receive a confirmation download document.

This can be done using a Cl@ve by clicking on “To acess with Cl@ve” on this link and following the instructions.

If you qualify but do not receive the letter you should go to the town hall with your passport, residency document (TIE or green certificate) and padron certificate. The town hall will then get you to fill in a registration form and the town hall will send this to the INE office.

Remember you must register before Sunday January 15, 2023.