Portugal is preparing to elect its new government on March 10, 2024, marking a crucial moment in the country's history. Portuguese citizens living abroad have already received the information they need to exercise their right to vote by post, an increasingly popular option.
Legislative elections in Portugal: postal voting the preferred option
According to Ministry of Internal Administration1,541,295 letters containing ballot papers were sent out. These voters, in 189 countries, can now take part in the electoral process without having to physically go to the polling stations.
Postal voting is particularly popular within the European circle, with 936,451 voters, followed by 604,844 in the circle outside Europe, broken down into 62,630 in Africa, 435,662 in America, and 106,552 in Asia and Oceania. Among the countries with the highest number of registered postal voters, France (381,273), Brazil (255,007) and the UK (170,633) lead the way.
However, 5,281 voters have expressed their intention to vote in person, according to provisional figures pending publication of the electoral rolls. These votes will be collected in 60 consulates, with Brazil (1,382), Venezuela (1,353) and South Africa (326) being the main contributors.
The process of sending the 1,541,295 letters to the 189 destinations began on February 4, with the first dispatch the following day. Each letter contains a ballot paper corresponding to the recipient's electoral circle, a green envelope to place the ballot paper in after the vote, a white envelope (reply envelope, stamped) and a leaflet with filling and return instructions, available in Portuguese, English and French.
To guarantee the validity of their vote, voters must mark their choice on the ballot paper, fold it into quarters, place it in the green envelope (without any additional indications or documents) and close it. They must then insert the green envelope in the white envelope, together with a copy of their identity card or voter's card, and mail it in before the election date.
Fears remain despite all
However, despite this procedure, there are still fears linked to the use of personal data on identity cards, or due to a lack of understanding of the voting process. A significant proportion of Portuguese emigrants failed to send in a copy, resulting in the cancellation of their vote.
Against the backdrop of the early elections on March 10, the Assembly of the Republic is recommending that the government raise awareness among Portuguese communities abroad, as part of electoral information campaigns. The aim of such an initiative is to avoid the mistakes that led to the cancellation of certain votes in the last legislative elections.
The political parties have announced their heads of list for the various electoral circles. The PS is presenting Paulo Pisco as head of list for the Europe circle, while the PSD has chosen Carlos Alberto Gonçalves. Other parties, such as Chega, IL, CDU, Bloco de Esquerda, PAN and Livre, have also nominated their respective representatives for the various electoral circles.
In conclusion, with postal voting becoming the preferred choice of the majority of voters portuguese abroadTo ensure informed and effective participation in the forthcoming legislative elections, it is essential to raise community awareness of the voting process.
