Notifications begin this Tuesday

This Monday the lottery for the polling stations has taken place for the general elections on July 23 in the municipalities of Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz. From tomorrow, Tuesday 27 June, the municipal police and the Post will start with door-to-door reports.

In principle, the municipalities had between June 24 and June 28 to conduct these draws, but the Central Elections Office agreed to allow the church councils to bring them forward until last Thursday, as long as the reference voter rollup is ready. That is the case with San Sebastián, which already held the draw last Thursday.

As planned, after the draw, from June 27 to 29, the first notification round. In the event that the notification is not delivered, a collection notice will be left in the mailbox. The fact that no report has been received in these first three days does not mean that no person has been designated. In fact, to this first round of reports will be followed by othersas, as on other occasions, there will be people who cannot be notified or allegations will be made that will be accepted by the Electoral Council.

How do I know if I had to be a polling place?

The City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz has not set up an electronic consultation system through its website. However, on 27, 28, 29 and 30 June, the personal result can be consulted in the city centers from 8.30 am to 2 pm without prior appointment. The consultations are in writing and personal, ie information from another person cannot be requested unless the representation document is presented with a photocopy of the identity document of the represented person.

Anyone standing in a polling station charges a minimum of 70 euros, which is the amount paid in the last municipal and regional elections. 5 euros more than in the 2019 generals.

Claim period

Once the notification is received, the law provides the opportunity to bring alleged impediments to the Zone Electoral Board. The voters have a time limit for this seven days after notification.

Since the elections will be held in the middle of the holidays this time, the Central Elections Office has authorized claiming the rental of a trip, provided it is paid before the elections are held (May 30) and its cancellation implies demonstrable economic damage. And all this while making sure people are present at the table.

Avoiding the obligation to be at the polling place brings ‘problems’. According to the Electoral Act (LOREG), “the chairman and members of the polling stations, as well as their respective deputies who cease to attend or perform their functions, leave them without legitimate reason or fail to comply without valid reason with the obligations of apology or prior notice that imposed by this Act, they shall be punished with imprisonment from three months to one year or a fine from six to twenty-four months.”

He punishment for not coming or leave the board without lawful or just cause, may be punished with imprisonment from three months to one year or a fine from six to twenty-four months.

Requirements to participate in the lottery

All people older than 18 years, younger than 70 years and who can read and write participate in this lottery. They can also submit their resignation within seven days from the age of 65.

In addition, those who come of age in the period between the formation of the electoral rolls and the vote are excluded.

On the other hand, regulated training counts. The president or president must have a bachelor’s degree, a second-degree vocational diploma, or a school diploma or equivalent.

Causes that justify not going to the polling station

The law contains a series of justifiable reasons why a citizen may not appear as chairman or member of a polling station despite a convocation.

These reasons for not going to a polling place must be justified in advance to the Zone Electoral Board. It is therefore not worth not showing up that day without prior permission from the area board.

Similarly, voting by mail does not exempt citizens from being called upon to be part of a polling station, despite widespread belief that it does.

The causes that are regulated are:

personal causes. Among these: being over the age of 65, having a disability, being sick or on leave from work, being pregnant for more than six months or having a high-risk pregnancy or having surgery on the days before the vote.

family causes. Among them: being a mother to a baby under 9 months old, having a child under 14 years old when the other parent cannot care for him, planning a family event of special importance that cannot be postponed, or direct and ongoing care for minors 8 years, people with disabilities or elderly and/or sick relatives.

professional causes. Among them: the workers who provide their services to the polling stations, the courts, health personnel, firefighters or the directors and heads of information services who have to cover the day.

Moreover, designation as a person chosen to be part of the table for one electoral process does not imply continuity for the next one, although nothing prevents him from being re-elected in successive processes by virtue of the lottery.

Working day reduction of 5 hours

Employees and employees and officers appointed as chairman or members of the polling stations are entitled to a paid leave full time during voting day, if it works. They are in any case entitled to a reduce your working day (also paid) five hours of work the day after.