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On 23 May 2027, new local councils will be elected in Spain. Many foreign residents on the Costa Blanca are also entitled to vote. To do so, it is essential that they are correctly registered on the electoral roll. For EU citizens, an important deadline is already 30 December 2026.
Anyone living in Dénia, Xàbia, Calp, Benidorm, Altea, Torrevieja or any other Spanish municipality may, subject to certain conditions, stand as a candidate in local elections – even if they are not Spanish nationals.
However, different procedures and deadlines apply to EU citizens and nationals of certain non-EU countries.
At the end of September, the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) began preparations to update the electoral register ahead of the local elections on 23 May 2027.
German, Dutch, Belgian, French and other EU nationals are entitled to vote in Spanish local elections if they:
The deadline for the 2027 local elections is 30 December 2026. By then, the necessary registration on the Padrón and the declaration of eligibility to vote must have been submitted.
There are three options available to EU citizens.
Online with Cl@ve: The declaration can be submitted digitally via the INE’s online portal.
In the letter from the INE: At the end of September, the Electoral Commission sent letters to EU citizens who had not yet declared their intention to vote. These letters may contain a personal access code (CTT), which can be used to register online.
At the town hall: The declaration may also be submitted in person to the relevant local authority. Form DFA is available for this purpose.
Anyone who has received a letter from the INE may also sign the declaration and return it, postage-free, to the relevant electoral authority.
No. Anyone who has already validly declared their intention to vote in local elections in Spain will, in principle, remain registered on the relevant electoral roll as long as the legal requirements are met and they are not removed from the register.
Anyone who is unsure should check their registration details. Registration on the Padrón alone does not replace the declaration of intent to vote.
Nationals of certain countries outside the EU may also vote in local elections in Spain, provided that a relevant intergovernmental agreement is in place and the personal eligibility criteria are met.
These include, amongst others, the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland, as well as several Latin American countries.
Unlike in the case of EU citizens, the relevant electoral register is drawn up anew for every local election.
In addition to registration on the Padrón, there may be specific requirements regarding the duration and legality of residence. These vary depending on nationality and voting rights agreements.
British residents should therefore not assume that having registered previously for the 2023 local elections automatically means they are registered for the 2027 elections as well.
In local elections, eligible voters determine the composition of the local councils, the Local councils.
They decide on a wide range of issues that directly affect everyday life: local taxes and charges, public spaces, local roads, town planning, waste management and many other local services.
It is therefore particularly important for international residents to get involved, especially in local communities with a high proportion of foreign residents.
The INE’s Oficina del Censo Electoral is responsible for the electoral register. Local authorities are the point of contact for registrations on the Padrón and for personal declarations of voting status.
Official information and online procedures are available via the INE. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria should check at an early stage whether their details are complete – rather than waiting until just before the relevant registration deadline to take action.
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