Spain electoral census grows ahead of November 29 elections

Spain's electoral census has seen significant growth ahead of the general elections scheduled for November 29. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) and the Electoral Census Office (OCE), the national electorate has increased by approximately 1.26 million people compared to July 2023, reaching a total of over 38.7 million voters.

A major driver of this increase is the growth of the CERA (Census of Absent Residents), with approximately 420,000 Spaniards living abroad now registered to vote. This surge in the diaspora is particularly notable in regions like Ourense, where over 30% of the electorate resides abroad, and in Castilla y León, where the foreign resident census grew by 16%.

Regional data shows varying trends. In Castilla-La Mancha, the census rose by 2.61% to 1.63 million voters. In Castilla y León, the total electorate reached 2.1 million, with growth in provinces like Valladolid and Soria offsetting slight declines in resident populations. The census update allows citizens to verify their registration and submit claims between October 12 and October 19.

While the number of voters is rising due to demographic shifts and registration of citizens abroad, some areas report a decrease in young first-time voters. The total number of registered voters in Spain now reflects a broader demographic reach, heavily influenced by the increasing political weight of the Spanish population living overseas.