Spanish voter census data shows shifts in local and overseas registration

In Cervelló, the municipality has reorganized its polling stations for the general elections scheduled for November 29, 2026. To facilitate voting, the Electoral Census Office has approved new spaces, including the Centre Cívic l’Ateneu, the Escola Santa Maria gymnasium, and Hotel Can Rafel. Notably, the Pavelló Xavier Ballber will no longer serve as a polling station.

In the Balearic Islands, the census of voters residing abroad has increased by 25% over the last three years. According to the Electoral Census Office, there were 41,882 individuals registered in the Census of Spaniards Residing Abroad (CERA) as of September, up from 33,378 three years prior. This growth coincides with the application of the ‘law of grandchildren’ (ley de nietos), which expands the number of foreigners eligible to vote.

Argentina hosts the largest concentration of these voters with 10,460 registered citizens, followed by the United States, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. Officials note that registration in the CERA does not guarantee a vote, as citizens must still express their explicit intent to vote, and actual turnout remains low.