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Voting Operations

Portugal Portugal

VO003

Electors vote at
Question:Where can electors vote?
Answer(s): a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
d. At specially designated polling stations
e. At mobile polling stations
f. By mail
Comments: Law governing Elections to the Assembly of the Republic Law no. 14/79 of 16 May 1979: Article 79 Casting a vote Article 79-A Advance mobile voting Article 79-B Advance voting Article 79-C Casting a mobile vote in advance in national territory Article79-D Casting a vote in advance by hospital patients and prisoners Article 79-E Casting a vote in advance by electors who are abroad Article 84 Location in which the right to vote is exercised Article 85 Information on the place where voting takes place OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Needs Assessment Mission Report, 22-26 November 2021, page 4-6: "In November 2020, legislative changes were introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which expanded opportunities for early voting and allowed for voting in self-isolation for all elections and referenda scheduled to take place in 2021. In November 2021, these amendments were extended for the 2022 elections... Voting is conducted in-person, and voters have multiple possibilities to cast their ballots. In addition to election-day voting at polling stations, early and mobile voting options are available. Voters abroad can also cast their ballot by post."
Source: Law governing Elections to the Assembly of the Republic Law no. 14/79 of 16 May 1979, Articles 79(A-G), Article 84 and Article 85: https://www.parlamento.pt/sites/EN/Parliament/Documents/LeiEleitoralARen.pdf OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Needs Assessment Mission Report, 22-26 November 2021, page 4-6: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/0/e/508898.pdf
Verified: 2024/10/10
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for
Question:Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s): b. Citizens residing outside the country
c. Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation)
d. Members of the armed forces
e. Students
f. Diplomatic staff
g. Other
Comments: Article 79-E Casting a vote in advance by electors who are abroad Article 79-F Right of choice of electors residing abroad Article 79-G Voting by post by electors residing abroad Article 84 Location in which the right to vote is exercised
Source: Law governing Elections to the Assembly of the Republic Law no. 14/79 of 16 May 1979, Articles 79(E-G) and Article 84: https://www.parlamento.pt/sites/EN/Parliament/Documents/LeiEleitoralARen.pdf Am I registered? https://www.portaldoeleitor.pt/pt/Eleitor/EstouRecenseado/Pages/default.aspx Voter portal: https://www.portaldoeleitor.pt/pt/Pages/default.aspx
Verified: 2024/10/10
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country
Question:If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s): a. Embassies
b. Consulates
c. Special polling stations
e. By mail
Comments: Article 42 Location of polling stations Article 42-A Polling stations are established as follows: a) In consular posts and sections, including honorary consulates with powers to register voters, in the external delegations of Portuguese ministries and public institutions; b) If strictly necessary, in other places where it is possible to ensure the oversight of electoral operations by delegates of at least two of the candidates. Article 79-G Voting by post by electors residing abroad
Source: Law governing Elections to the Assembly of the Republic Law no. 14/79 of 16 May 1979, Article 42, Article 42-A and Article 79-G: https://www.parlamento.pt/sites/EN/Parliament/Documents/LeiEleitoralARen.pdf Voter portal: https://www.portaldoeleitor.pt/pt/Pages/default.aspx ORGANIZATION of the ELECTORAL PROCESS ABROAD, Decree-Law No. 95-C/76, of 30 January 1976: https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/legis_95-c-76-processo-estrangeiro-2012.pdf
Verified: 2024/10/10
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
VO011

Voting method
Question:How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s): a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments: Article 96 Manner in which each elector votes 1 - Each voter, appearing in the polling station, gives their name and hands over their civil identification document to the president, if they have one. 2 - In the absence of a civil identification document, the identification of the voter shall be checked by means of any other official document containing a current photograph, or by two voters who certify the individual’sidentity on their word of honour, or by unanimous recognition of the polling station officers. 3 - Once the voter has been identified, the presiding officer says their name and civil identification number aloud and, after checking the registration, gives them a voting slip. 4 - Whenever a voter requests a Braille template of the voting slip, it is given to the voter, overlaying the voting slip so that they can read it and cast their vote with a cross in the contour of the square of the list corresponding to their voting choice. 5 - The voter then enters the voting booth in the polling station and there, alone, marks a cross in the respective square of the list they are voting for and folds the voting slip into four. 6 - Returning to the ballot table, the voter hands the ballot to the presiding officer, who inserts it into the ballot box, while the tellers note that elector has voted by initialling the column in the electoral rolls and the line corresponding to the voter's name, intended for the purpose. 7 - After voting, any elector who asked for the Braille voting slip template returns it to the ballot table. 8 - If a voter accidentally spoils the voting slip they must ask for another one from the presiding officer, and give back the first one. The presiding officer shall write “spoiled” on the returned voting slip, initial it and retain it for the purposes of Article 95(8).
Source: Law governing Elections to the Assembly of the Republic Law no. 14/79 of 16 May 1979, Article 96: https://www.parlamento.pt/sites/EN/Parliament/Documents/LeiEleitoralARen.pdf
Verified: 2024/10/10
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
The data on this page is continuously updated. Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.