Elections in Spain

The electoral system for the bicameral Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales, is enshrined in Articles 68 and 69 of the Constitution and the Organic Law 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General ( LOREG ) regulated.

The two Houses of Parliament are the Congress of Deputies Congreso of Deputies and the Senate Senado.

The election of the Congreso is based on a system of proportional representation in constituencies of different sizes, the choice of Senado is a majority vote in multi- man constituencies. The electoral system for both chambers has remained essentially unchanged since the first democratic elections (1977 ) after the end of the Franco regime.

Also in LOREG the electoral system for the election of MEPs, the councilors, the mayor, the island councils on the Canary Islands and the provincial councils ( with the exception of the Basque provinces ) controlled.

The conditions governing the electoral system for elections to the parliaments of the regions ( Autonomous Communities ), there are, however, mostly in their own regional laws.

2.1 Direct-dial 2.1.1 Classification of electoral district
2.1.2 votes clearing
2.1.3 Impact of the electoral system

2.2.1 Number and distribution
2.2.2 Electoral Process

4.1 Andalucia
4.2 Aragon
4.3 Asturias
4.4 Balearic Islands
4.5 Basque Country
4.6 Extremadura
4.7 Galicia
4.8 Canaries
4.9 Cantabria
4:10 Castile -La Mancha
4:11 Castile and León
4:12 Catalonia
4:13 La Rioja
4:14 Madrid
4:15 Murcia
4:16 Navarra
4:17 Valencia

Congreso

Division of the electoral district

The electoral area is divided into 52 constituencies. These are the 50 provinces as well as to the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. The distribution of seats among the constituencies shall be determined in each case before the election: 248 seats are distributed according to the population (according to the Hare - Niemeyer method), added two basic mandates for each province. The two autonomous cities are represented by one of its Members, so that a total number of 350 seats provides (Art. 68 para 2 of the Constitution, Article 162 LOREG ).

By reason mandates provinces are preferred with few inhabitants. In the parliamentary elections of 2008, has 38,070 registered voters 128 286 voters were in the province of Teruel on a deputy's mandate, in the province of Madrid, however, on a mandate.

Next is characteristic that the constituencies are of size vary, and in particular there are many small constituencies are ( Election 2008: 2 with a, 1 with two, 8 with three, nine with four, seven with five, eight with six, 4 with seven, five eight, one nine, two ten, 2 with twelve, Valencia with 16, 31 and Barcelona with Madrid with 35 deputies ). The average district magnitude is 6.7 MP.

Votes clearing

The parties shall in each constituency on its own list of candidates. Voters can only vote for a list, custom components do not exist. The seats are favored within the constituencies according to the D' Hondt method, the major parties on the lists distributed (Art. 163 LOREG ). In addition, a minimum threshold of 3 % at the constituency level (Article 163, paragraph 1a) LOREG ), which is only in the two largest constituencies of importance, however, there is - in the remaining more than 3 % of the votes are required in any case to a seat to obtain. The voices are not netted between the constituencies to deal with the lost votes, which are delivered to parties who have failed to obtain located in that constituency.

Impact of the electoral system

The electoral system in highly disadvantaged smaller state-wide parties, as they hardly have a chance to win a parliamentary seat in the numerous small constituencies in which only a single digit number is assigned by the mandates. You can hope for mandates only in the few large constituencies at all, in the other constituencies given to them votes will not be taken into account for the allocation of seats. This effect, however, are less affected by regional parties with clear strongholds: Your votes will focus on a few constituencies where they have a good chance of parliamentary seats; in the remaining constituencies they usually come not at all. So Izquierda Unida became the third largest state-wide party in the 2008 election with 969 871 votes only two seats, which is encountered only in the Catalonia regional party Convergència i Unio ( CiU ), however, with 779 425 votes ten seats. From this disadvantage the small benefit in particular the major parties. In the 1989 election that led to the fact that the ruling Socialist Party with 39.6 % of votes received 50.0% of the seats. The expectation of the voters that make especially in smaller constituencies only vote for one of the major parties a difference in the election results, also influences the choices. As a slogan for this phenomenon, which leads to higher shares of votes for the major parties, the term has become established voto útil ( " useful vote ").

Senado

The Senado is made under Article 69 of the Constitution composed of

208 directly elected by the people and members
Other senators (currently 58) of the parliaments of the individual regions (Spanish: Comunidades Autónomas ) are determined.

Direct-dial

Division of the electoral district

The electoral area is divided into 59 constituencies. These are the 47 mainland provinces (each with - regardless of the population - four Senators ), the island constituencies Gran Canaria, Mallorca and Tenerife (three ), Ibiza -Formentera, Menorca, Fuerteventura, Gomera, Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma (one senator ) and the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla ( two each ), so that a total of 208 senators elected directly yields (Art. 165 LOREG ).

Through this mandate distribution constituencies with few inhabitants still much more preferable than in elections to the Congreso: In the 2008 general election were constructed in the island constituency Hierro per 9,551 eligible voters on a senator, in the province of Soria 19.342, and in the province of Madrid 1.12251 million eligible voters. This can be explained, however, from the constitutional position of the Senate: This is not the representation of the people, but the chamber of the " territorial representation " (Art 69 para 1 of the Constitution).

Votes clearing

It is a personal choice. The voter can vote in the four- member constituencies for up to three, in the three-and two-man constituencies for up to two and one-man constituencies for a candidate even spread across multiple nominations ( " vote-splitting "). Elected are the candidates with the highest number of votes (Article 166 LOREG ).

Impact of the electoral system

The Parties shall in the constituencies on only the number of candidates equal to the number of votes by which the voter has, (three in four men constituencies ) to prevent fragmentation of the electoral potential. This and the fact that most voters cast their ballots closed the candidate of their preferred party, means that the ratio of won by the strongest party seats to those of the second largest party in the vast majority of cases in the four- man constituencies 3: 1, in the three- man constituencies 2:1 and in the two-man constituencies 2-0. At a deviating result, it came in the five elections in 1993 and 2008 only five cases (of a total of 354 individual elections in the constituencies ): 1993, PSOE and PP divided in equal parts the seats in Valencia and Melilla, 2004 in Toledo and Teruel, 2008 in Ciudad Real; 2011, CiU and PSC divided in equal parts the seats of the province of Tarragona. The electoral system is therefore to be classified in the results than majority vote.

Senators of the Regions

Number and distribution

The number of delegates of the regions senators depends on the population of each region (one plus another one per million inhabitants, Article 69, Section 5 of the Constitution ). In the current legislative X. Since December 2011, these are currently a total of 58 ( 9 Andalusia, Aragon 2, 2 Asturias, Balearic Islands 2, 3 Basque Country, Extremadura 2, 3 Galicia, Canary Islands 3, Cantabria 1, Castile-La Mancha 3, Castile and León 3, 8 Catalonia, La Rioja 1, 7 Madrid, Murcia 2, Navarra 1, Valencia 6).

Election procedures

The naming of the posted senators carried out by the regional parliaments under the provisions of the respective statutes of autonomy of the regions, where the proportional observed (Article 69 paragraph 5 of the Constitution, Article 165, paragraph 4 LOREG ).

European Parliament

Even the electoral system for the election of the Spanish MEPs is regulated in LOREG (Art. 214-217 ). The entire territory constitutes a single constituency. The distribution of seats among the nominations performed according to the D' Hondt method, a restrictive clause does not exist.

Parliaments of the Autonomous Communities

The electoral system for the election to the parliaments of the Autonomous Communities is not governed by the Constitution and the LOREG, but in the Statutes of Autonomy (which the internal constitution of the Autonomous Communities rules) and in the ruling on their basis of electoral laws of the Autonomous Communities.

However, these are limited in the choice of the electoral system: According to Article 152.1 of the Spanish Constitution, the regional parliaments are to be elected by proportional representation principles. However, this constitutional provision by its terms applies only to the Autonomous Communities of the so-called " fast track " ( Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia). However, under the law of the Constitutional Court, it is also applicable to the remaining Autonomous Communities, so it this is generally denied to provide a majority voting for the election of their parliaments.

The electoral system complies therefore, in all the Autonomous Communities substantially equal to that as it applies to the Congreso in the election. In the Autonomous Communities, which consist of several provinces, these form the constituencies (except the Canary Islands, where it is the individual islands). The Autonomous Communities that consist of only one province (Asturias, Cantabria, Navarra, La Rioja, Madrid, Balearic Islands, Murcia) either form a single constituency or are divided into a number of constituencies.

In all the Autonomous Communities shall apply - as well as in the election to Congreso - the seat allocation only at the level of the constituencies in accordance with the D' Hondt method instead.

Only at the level of the electoral threshold and the mode of the distribution of seats among constituencies (especially for the number of seats per constituency base ) are significant deviations.

In particular:

Andalusia

According to Article 101.1 of the Autonomy Statute, Parliament consists of at least 109 MPs. Next prescribes the statute of autonomy that constituency is the province that the province can not ask more than double the deputies of another (Article 104.1 ) and the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place (Art. 104.2 ).

The Andalusian election law specifies the number of members fixed to 109. Each constituency ( province ) receives eight basic mandates, the remaining 45 seats are allocated to the provinces in proportion to the population, resulting in the following distribution was found in the previous election on 9 March 2008: Almería 12, Cádiz 15, Córdoba 12, Granada 13, 11 Huelva, Jaén 12, Málaga 16, Sevilla 18 The average constituency size is thus 13.6 MP. Again, the system of basic mandates leads to a preference for the provinces with few inhabitants, so 34 813 eligible voters came in the election of 2008, has in the province of Huelva on a deputy's mandate, in Seville, it was 81 625.

The implementation of the election results in seats following the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, 3 - percent threshold in each constituency, the distribution of seats in the constituency by d' Hondt, no settlement between the constituencies ).

Aragon

Under Article 36 of the Statute of Autonomy, the Parliament of at least 65 and at most 80 members is (Art. 36). Next write the statute of autonomy before that constituency is the province (Article 37.4 ) and the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place (Art. 37.3). It is further specified that the number of residents allowed per mandate of the most populous province exceed the 2.75 - times the number of inhabitants per mandate of the least populated province (Art. 36).

The electoral law of the Autonomous Community of Aragon sets the number of representatives fixed to 67. Each constituency ( province ) gives 13 basic mandates, the remaining 28 seats are allocated to the provinces in proportion to the population. Thereby specifying the Statute of Autonomy (2.75 - control) is not complied with, the most populous province receives at the expense of the least populated province as many MPs is manufactured to the required ratio. This yields for the elections of 22 May 2011, the following distribution: 18 Huesca, Teruel 14, Zaragoza 35 The average constituency size is thus 22.3 MP. Again, the system of basic mandates leads to a preference for the provinces with few inhabitants, so come at the 2011 election mathematically in the province of Teruel 10,377 inhabitants on a deputy's mandate, in Zaragoza, there are 27 807.

Asturias

The Autonomy Statute contains regards the electoral system, only the determination that the election according to the principles of proportional representation to be made (Art. 25.1).

The Asturian election law defines the number of deputies determined on 45. The election takes place in three constituencies (West, Central, East ), the blank is specified in the election law ( by town, Asturias consists of only one province). Each constituency receives two basic mandates, the remaining 39 seats are allocated to the constituencies in proportion to the population, resulting in the following distribution was found in the last election of 27 May 2007: mid- 34, West 6, East 5 The average constituency size is thus 15 MPs. Again, the system of basic mandates leads to a preference of the constituencies with few inhabitants ( since the basic mandates but only 13 % of the seats make not as pronounced ), so 15,859 voters came in the election of 2007 calculated in the constituency of East on a deputy's mandate, in the constituency middle, there were 22,866.

The implementation of the election results in seats following the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, 3 percent - hurdle in each constituency, the distribution of seats in the constituency by d' Hondt, no settlement between the constituencies ).

Balearic Islands

Under Article 41 of the Statute of Autonomy election to the constituencies Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera based on the principles of proportional representation.

The electoral law of the Balearic Islands specifies that out of the total 59 members in the constituency Mallorca 33, 13 in the constituency Menorca, Ibiza 12 in the constituency and be elected in the constituency of Formentera. The average constituency size is thus 14.8 MP. Through these established by the electoral law 's mandates each constituency the number of eligible voters was ever Deputies at the last election of 27 May 2007 Interim 4845 ( Menorca) and 16,809 (Mallorca).

Basque country

Under Article 26 of the Statute of Autonomy election to Parliament in the provinces as constituencies takes place according to the principles of proportional representation, in each province the same number of deputies to be elected.

The Basque election law specifies the number of representatives to be elected in each constituency MPs fixed to 25, bringing a total number of 75 seats results. By assigning an equal number of deputies in every province, despite considerable differences in population are significant imbalances arise as 9,929 voters came in the last election from 1 March 2009 calculated in the province of Álava to a deputy's mandate, in Vizcaya, there were 37 328 and in Guipúzcoa 23,000.

Extremadura

Under Article 21.1 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of no more than 65 members, who are elected according to the principle of proportional representation. Next prescribes the statute of autonomy that constituency is the province and the electoral law for each province has to determine a number of basic mandates, while the remaining seats according to the proportion of the population are to be distributed to the provinces (Art. 21.2).

The electoral law of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura sets the number of Members laid on 65. Each constituency ( province ) receives 20 basic mandates, the remaining 25 seats are allocated to the provinces in proportion to the population, which in the election of 22 May 2011, the following distribution results: Badajoz 36, Cáceres 29 The average constituency size is thus 32 5 deputies. In the last election in May 2011, so come by calculation in the province of Cáceres 14,313 inhabitants on a deputy's mandate, in Badajoz, there are 19,226.

The implementation of the election results in seats following the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, distribution of seats in the constituency by d' Hondt, no settlement between the constituencies ). However, with the restrictive clause a special feature: When the distribution of seats in the constituency in addition to the parties that there have received at least 5 % of the vote, also taking into account, where this may not be the case, but which are taken up in the other constituency and based on the total result at least 5 % of the votes have achieved.

Galicia

Under Article 11.5 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of at least 60 and at most 80 members. Next write the statute of autonomy before that constituency is the province (Article 11.4) and the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place (Art. 11.2).

The Galician Elections Act sets out the number of members fixed to 75. Each constituency ( province ) receives ten basic mandates, the remaining 35 seats are allocated to the provinces in proportion to the population, resulting in the following distribution was found in the last election from March 1, 2009: La Coruna 24, Lugo 15, Orense 14, Pontevedra 22. , the average constituency size is thus 18.8 MP. Again, the system of basic mandates leads to a preference for the provinces with few inhabitants, so 23.080 voters came in the election of 2009 calculated in the province of Lugo to a deputy's mandate, in La Coruña there were 44 662.

Canaries

Under Article 9.3 of the Statute of Autonomy Parliament consists of at least 50 and at most 70 members. The election is in the constituencies El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, Lanzarote, La Palma and Tenerife (Art. 9.4) according to the principles of proportional representation (Art. 9.2).

Other provisions includes the "first transitional provision " ( disposición transitoria primera ) of the Statute of Autonomy: In this, the number of MPs is set to 60, of which 15 per in the constituencies Gran Canaria and Tenerife, eight in the constituencies of La Palma and Lanzarote, seven are to be selected in Fuerteventura, La Gomera in four and three in El Hierro. At the restrictive clause of the transitional provision includes a requirement that the allocation of seats in the constituency of the nomination is considered on the most votes are eliminated in the constituency, and also the election proposals that have won at least 30 % of the vote in the constituency, and those parties to after the general election results throughout the Autonomous Community of at least 6% of votes are eliminated. The provisions of the transitional provision shall apply as long as by law, however, requires a two-thirds majority, shall be taken no other regulation, which is not so far taken place.

The average district magnitude is thus 8.6 MP. By stipulated in the transitional provision of the Statute of Autonomy number of seats per constituency, the number of eligible voters was ever Deputies at the last election of 27 May 2007 Interim 3377 (El Hierro ) and 43 638 ( Tenerife ).

The electoral law of the Canaries itself contains no provisions for the electoral system, but only to other electoral matters ( election committees, nominations, financing, etc. ) and also refers to the LOREG. The implementation of the election results in seats therefore follows the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, distribution of seats in the constituency by d' Hondt, no settlement between the constituencies ) with the only exception that the blocking clause scheme outlined above applies.

Cantabria

Under Article 10.4 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of at least 35 and not more than 45 MPs. Next prescribes the statute of autonomy that the entire Community, which consists only of a province, a single constituency forms (Article 10.2) and the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place (Art. 10.1).

The Cantabrian election law specifies the number of members fixed to 39. The implementation of the election results in seats following the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, distribution of seats in the constituency according to d' Hondt ) with the only exception that the restrictive clause is not 3%, but 5%.

Castile -La Mancha

Under Article 10.2 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of at least 47 and not more than 59 MPs. Next prescribes the statute of autonomy that constituency is the province, in the province of Albacete at least ten, in the province of Ciudad Real least eleven, in the province of Cuenca at least eight, in the province of Guadalajara least seven, and in the province of Toledo least eleven deputies to are choose and the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place (Art. 10.2).

The electoral law of the Autonomous Community determines the number of members fixed to 49, ten of which are elected in the province of Albacete, Ciudad Real eleven, eight in Cuenca, Guadalajara eight and twelve in Toledo. The average constituency size is thus 9.8 MP. Through these established by the electoral law 's mandates each constituency the number of inhabitants, depending Deputies in the election of 22 May 2011 InterIm 27,215 (Cuenca ) and 58 163 (Toledo).

Castile and León

Under Article 21.2 of the Statute of Autonomy constituency is the province, each province is entitled three basic mandates. In addition, each province receives one delegate per 45,000 residents and another when these breakdowns a residue of more than 22,500 inhabitants remains. The distribution of seats according to that provision for the election of 22 May 2011 was as follows Result: 7 Ávila, Burgos 11, 14 León, Palencia 7, 11 Salamanca, Segovia 7, 5 Soria, Valladolid and Zamora 15 7, making a total of 84 Again, the system of basic mandates leads to a preference for the provinces with few inhabitants, so come in the election of 2011 calculated in Soria province 19 052 inhabitants on a deputy's mandate, in León there are 35,663. Next determine the statute of autonomy that the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place (Art. 21.1).

The implementation of the election results in seats made in accordance with the electoral law of the Autonomous Community by the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, 3 - percent threshold in each constituency, the distribution of seats in the constituency by d' Hondt, no settlement between the constituencies ).

Catalonia

Under Article 56 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of at least 100 and not more than 150 members who are elected according to the principle of proportional representation.

Catalonia has been adopted as one of the 17 autonomous communities not own electoral law. Other elements of the electoral system arising from the fourth transitional provision ( disposición transitoria cuarta ) of the Statute of Autonomy of 1979, which ( disposición transitoria segunda ) of the new Statute of Autonomy of 2006 until the adoption of an electoral law further remains after the second transitional provision in force. Then constituencies are the four provinces, in the province of Barcelona 85, in the province of Girona 17, in the province of Lleida and 15 in the province of Tarragona 18 members are elected to keep Parliament consists entirely of 135 deputies. The average district magnitude is thus 33.8 MP. By stipulated in the transitional provision of the Statute of Autonomy number of seats per constituency, the number of eligible voters was ever Deputies at the last election on 28 November 2010 entered into between 20 079 (Lleida ) and 45 892 (Barcelona).

In addition, refer the transitional provision of the Statute of Autonomy on the LOREG. The implementation of the election results in seats therefore follows the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, 3 - percent threshold in each constituency, the distribution of seats in the constituency by d' Hondt, no settlement between the constituencies ).

La Rioja

Under Article 17.2 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of at least 32 and at most 40 members. Next prescribes the statute of autonomy that the entire Community, which consists only of a province, a single constituency forms (Article 17.3) and the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place (Art. 17.1).

The electoral law of the Autonomous Community determines the number of members fixed to 33. The implementation of the election results in seats following the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, distribution of seats according to d' Hondt ) with the only exception that the restrictive clause is not 3%, but 5%.

Madrid

Under Article 10.2 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of a MEPs for each 50,000 inhabitants or another, if there remains a residue of more than 25,000 inhabitants. Next prescribes the statute of autonomy that the entire Community, which consists only of a province, a single constituency forms (Article 10.5), the restrictive clause 5% (Article 10.6) and the choice according to the principles of proportional representation takes place ( type. 10.1).

After the Autonomous Community of election law the implementation of the election results in seats following the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, distribution of seats according to d' Hondt ) with the only exception that the minimum threshold is 5%.

Murcia

Under Article 24.2 of the Statute of Autonomy Parliament consists of at least 45 and highest 55 members, who are elected according to the principle of proportional representation (Art. 24.1).

The electoral law of the Murcia region sets the number of Members laid on 45. The election is in five constituencies whose blank is specified in the election law ( by town, Murcia consists of only one province). Each constituency shall receive a basic mandate, the remaining 40 seats are allocated to the constituencies in proportion to the population. The average constituency size is thus 9 deputies. Again, the system of basic mandates leads to a preference of the constituencies with few inhabitants as 13,311 voters came in the election of 2007 calculated in the constituency 5 on a deputy's mandate, in the constituency 3 there were 24,227.

Navarra

Under Article 15.2 of the Statute of Autonomy is the Parliament of at least 40 and at most 60 members, who are elected according to the principle of proportional representation.

The electoral law of Navarre sets the number of Members laid on 50. The entire Autonomous Community, which consists of only one province, forms a single electoral district. The implementation of the election results in seats following the same rules as for the elections to the Congreso ( rigid lists, 3 - percent threshold, the distribution of seats according to d' Hondt ).

Valencia

According to Article 23.1 of the Statute of Autonomy of 2006, Parliament consists of at least 99 members who are elected according to the principle of proportional representation. Next prescribes the statute of autonomy that constituency is the province, each province is entitled 20 basic mandates and the remaining seats are distributed among the provinces in proportion to the population. It is further specified that the number of residents allowed per mandate in a province more than 3 times the number of inhabitants amounted to each mandate in another province (Art. 24).

The electoral law of the Autonomous Community determines the number of members fixed to 89, which Article 23.1 of the Statute of autonomy contradicts ( minimum 99). This is due to the fact that the electoral law dates back to the time before the new Statute of Autonomy of 2006, this has not yet been adjusted. Since it is the Statute of Autonomy is the higher rule, a total of 99 members are elected in the election of 22 May 2011. The after accounting for the 20 basic mandates each province remaining number of MPs will be distributed using the d' Hondt method to the provinces according to their population. Is this the default Statute of Autonomy ( number of inhabitants per mandate more than 3 times another province ) are not complied with, the distribution result is to be corrected accordingly. This results in the 2011 election for the province of Alicante 35, 24 for Castellón and Valencia for 40 seats. The average constituency size is therefore 33 deputies. Again, the high number of basic mandates leads to a preference for the provinces with few inhabitants, so come in the election of 2011 calculated in the province of Castellón 25 178 inhabitants on a deputy's mandate, in Valencia, there are 64 529.

Municipal councils and mayors

Even the electoral system for the election of local councils is regulated in LOREG (Art. 179-184 ). The number to be elected municipal councilors depends on the population, each community forms a single constituency (Art. 179). Again, there are rigid lists and the allocation of seats is based on the D' Hondt method, the barrier clause, however, 5% (Article 180).

The mayor ( alcalde ) is selected in the inaugural meeting of the council. Can run only the top candidates of the respective lists for election to the council. Receives in this ballot an absolute majority of the candidates, this is elected mayor (which will enable the formation of " coalitions " opened ); this majority is not reached, the top candidate list of those mayors who had received the most votes in the election for municipal council.

A special feature is the municipalities with no more than 250 inhabitants: There are five council members are elected. Each nomination may contain up to five names. There is people choice. The voter has four votes he can freely distribute to the established candidates (including panaschieren ). The five candidates with the most votes will form the municipal council (Art. 184). Here also, the election of the mayor in the inaugural session of the municipal council, but being able to run each council member. Receives in this ballot an absolute majority of the candidates, this is elected mayor (which will enable the formation of " coalitions " opened ); this majority is not reached, the municipal councilor mayor, who had received the most votes in the election for municipal council.

An exception are the municipalities, which are organized according to the system of concejo abierto (these are those in which this system traditionally applies ). It only shows the mayor is elected directly by the voters (Article 179.2 ), the function of the council accepts a meeting of all eligible voters ( asamblea vecinal ).

Island Councils

Even the electoral system for the election of existing in the Canaries for each island island councils ( " Cabildo Insular " ) is governed by the LOREG (Art. 201). Each island forms a single constituency, otherwise the rules for the election of councilors shall apply accordingly. President of the Island Council is the leading candidate of the list, which accounted for the highest number of votes.

Is also in the Balearics for each of the four islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera) an Island Council ( " Consejo Insular "). The electoral system for the election of the Island Councils is governed by a regional law of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands. The island of Formentera is, however, only one community, so there is also the island council and municipal council is elected according to the rules applicable to local councils. The Island Council of Mallorca consists of 33 members, of Menorca and Ibiza from each 13 The islands each form a single constituency. There is a 5 -percent electoral threshold. The distribution of seats is based on the D' Hondt method.

Provincial Councils

In the Autonomous Communities, which consist of several provinces, is the self-governing body at the provincial level, the provincial ( Provincial Council ), in those that consist only of a province whose functions are performed by the Parliament of the Autonomous Community.

Even the electoral system for the election of Diputaciones Provinciates is regulated in LOREG (Art. 204-209 ).

The Provincial consists of 25 ( 500,000 inhabitants), 27 (up to 1 million inhabitants), 31 ( to 3.5 million), or 51 ( more than 3.5 million inhabitants) members (Art. 204.1 ), elected by indirect suffrage be.

First, the seats are distributed to exist in the province of judicial districts ( partidos Judiciales ) in proportion to the population, each judicial district receives at least one seat and no judicial district more than three -fifths of the total seats to be distributed (Art. 204.2 ).

Then, calculated at the level of the judicial districts, how many votes each party has won in the elections to the local councils, only parties are considered which have at least won a seat in one of the local councils. The total number of seats to be distributed in the judicial district is distributed to the parties according to the D' Hondt method. (Art. 205)

Following the establishment of local councils all elected in the judicial district council members meet separately after parties and choose their party is entitled number of members in the Provincial Council. (Art. 206)

At the inaugural meeting of the Provincial Council this elects its president, with an absolute majority is required in the first ballot. If this is not achieved, there will be a second round of voting in which it is selected who obtained the most votes.

A special feature applies to the Provincial Councils of the three Basque provinces of Álava, Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa flying the term " Juntas Generales ". For this, the electoral system is regulated in a Basque regional law. The respective 51 deputies are elected by direct vote. The electoral system largely corresponds to the as the Congreso shall apply also in choice: The provinces are divided into constituencies ( three in Álava, Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa four ). The seats are distributed among the constituencies in proportion to the population. There are rigid lists. In the constituency, the seats are distributed among the lists according to the election results after the D' Hondt method, with a minimum threshold of 3 % in the respective constituency exists. An accounting of votes between the constituencies does not occur.

Congress of Deputies (Spain) Voting system Community of Madrid United Left (Spain) Panachage Basque Country (autonomous community)

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