Spain's Foreign Ministry warns of voting delays for 'grandchildren law' citizens

Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, has stated it will be ‘very difficult’ for consulates to verify the eligibility of voters under the ‘grandchildren law’ in time for the upcoming November 29 elections.

Following a Supreme Court order, consulates must verify that individuals granted citizenship under the law are descendants of exiles to be eligible to vote. Albares noted that while data for those naturalized in 2025 and 2026 is available via the digital civil registry, other cases require a manual data transfer process. The Directorate-General for Consular Affairs had previously warned that this process might not be completed until at least January.

Approximately 160,000 Spaniards living abroad could potentially be unable to vote, which may impact regions with significant diaspora populations such as Galicia, Asturias, or the Canary Islands. In response to the deadline, the ministry has issued precise instructions to all consulates, cancelled leave for consuls, and mobilized additional staff to expedite the process.