Foreigners vote in local elections

As spring slides into summer many have not stopped to think about what lies ahead this autumn. However, Portugal’s local elections (autárquicas) will be taking place in October across the country and it may not be known by the majority of foreigners that they may have a right to vote. According to information provided by afpop, the largest foreigners association in the country, European Union citizens, as well as individuals from Portuguese-speaking countries, who have been in the possession of a residence card (Cartão de Residência) for two years and live in Portugal, are eligible to vote and may register at their local parish council. Citizens from Argentina, Israel, Norway, Peru and Uruguay are also allowed to vote, as long as they hold the necessary documents and have lived in Portugal for at least three years. To register, foreigners must visit their local parish council up to 60 days before the elections take place.  EU citizens are asked to take their valid residence card and passport (required at some offices) and request to be placed on the Electoral Register. The staff in the parish council will fill out the form and ask the soon-to-be voters to return when the voter’s card (Cartão de Eleitor) is ready. If a transfer from another town is needed, then the foreigner’s previous voter’s card or electoral number will be required, as well as the name of the constituency. Then, a registration or transfer form will have to be filled in. Foreigners will be entitled to their voter’s card, which contains the name, voter’s number and constituency of its owner if all is done correctly. The power of the expatriate vote, especially in a region like the Algarve with such a vast foreign community, has only recently begun to be taken into account. However, recent local elections have seen councils acknowledge their importance and have started nominating foreign representatives to attract their vote and encourage them to participate. The Algarve Resident will be updating readers about the various candidates running for mayoral positions in both municipal authorities (Câmaras Municipais) and its parishes (Juntas de Freguesia). This week we introduce you to the PSD candidate campaigning for the post of president of Almancil parish council.

http://www.algarveresident.com/0-53480/algarve/foreigners-vote-in-local-elections