# Spanish Democratic Memory Law legal dispute > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spanish-democratic-memory-law-legal-dispute > Updated: 2026-10-25T05:30:58.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 3. The Democratic Memory Law, often called the ‘grandchildren law,’ has triggered legal disputes regarding the voting rights of naturalized citizens in Spain. The controversy centers on whether administrative instructions from the Ministry of Justice improperly expanded nationality criteria beyond the descendants of those exiled for political or ideological reasons between 1936 and 1955. The Spanish Supreme Court issued a precautionary suspension on the registration of certain individuals in the Census of Absent Residents (CERA), specifically affecting those who obtained nationality under the law’s Eighth Additional Provision. The court is investigating if a 2022 administrative instruction from the Directorate General of Justice, Services, and Faith exceeded legal authority by assuming exile for anyone leaving Spain during the specified period. In response to the suspension of voting rights for approximately 163,020 citizens, Spain's Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, filed an urgent appeal with the Constitutional Court. Gabilondo argues that the right to vote is “indissolubly linked to nationality” and that the suspension causes irreparable harm. While the Ombudsman seeks to restore rights before the November 29 elections, the group Iustitia Europa has requested the Constitutional Court maintain the Supreme Court’s measures to ensure the integrity of the electoral census. The impact of the ruling is being felt by the Spanish diaspora; for example, descendants of political exiles living in the United States are currently seeking to utilize court-provided exceptions by presenting historical documentation to prove political exile, though their ability to vote remains unresolved. ## Claims - The Supreme Court's decision affects people registered in the CERA census. (corroborated by 20 sources) - Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo filed an appeal for protection with the Constitutional Court. (corroborated by 16 sources) - The affected individuals obtained nationality via the Democratic Memory Law. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The appeal requests urgent precautionary measures to allow voting in the November 29 elections. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The Supreme Court suspended the voting rights of 163,020 people. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The State Attorney and the Prosecutor's Office had previously requested the lifting of the suspension. (corroborated by 8 sources) - An instruction from 2022 presumed exile for Spaniards leaving between 1936 and 1955. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Supreme Court ruled that the general interest prevails over the individual right to vote in this context. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-25: Spanish descendants face voting restrictions due to court ruling Descendants of a Spanish Republican deputy living in the US may be barred from voting following a Supreme Court suspension affecting citizens naturalized under the Democratic Memory Law. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-descendants-face-voting-restrictions-due-to-court-ruling ### 2026-10-16: Spanish Supreme Court suspends voting rights for 163,000 citizens The Spanish Supreme Court has suspended voting rights for 163,020 citizens under the ‘Grandchildren Law’. Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo has appealed to the Constitutional Court to restore voting rights for the Nov 29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-ombudsman-appeals-voting-suspension-for-naturalized-citizens ### 2026-09-26: Spanish Supreme Court suspends voting rights for some naturalized citizens Spain's Supreme Court has suspended the registration of some citizens naturalized under the Democratic Memory Law in the CERA electoral census pending a ruling on the legality of the criteria used. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-supreme-court-suspends-voting-rights-for-some-naturalized-citizens --- Cite as: Spanish Democratic Memory Law legal dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spanish-democratic-memory-law-legal-dispute