Info
Electoral Management
EM002
Responsibility of national EMB
Question: Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):
a . National level
b . Regional level
c . Local level
Comments:
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 8 & 19:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
EM004
EMB budget determined by
Question: The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):
c . The legislature
g . Other
Comments:
The Parliament has to provide the Central Electoral Board with the staff and the necessary instruments and materials.
The central government, the autonomous regional governments and the city councils finance the local boards.
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 13:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
EM005
EMB expenditures controlled by
Question: The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):
c . The legislature
Comments:
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 13:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
EM006
Term of EMB members
Question: The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:
d . Other
Comments:
The members of the Central Electoral Board who are not judges are nominated within 90 days from the first session of the Parliament (a new Board is inaugurated in every new legislature)
The members of the Central Electoral Board are appointed for a term that lasts until the new Board takes office at the beginning of the next legislative term.
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 9 (2-3):
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
EM012
Electoral Management model
Question: What is the Electoral Management model?
Answer:
c . Mixed
Comments:
Article 8: Defines the Electoral Administration, including governmental bodies like the Central Electoral Board, Provincial Electoral Boards, Zone Electoral Boards, and Electoral Tables.
Article 9: Specifies the composition of the Central Electoral Board, which includes both judicial members (Magistrates of the Supreme Court) and academic members (Catedráticos).
Article 13: States that the General Courts, the Government, and the City Councils provide the necessary resources for the Electoral Boards, indicating governmental involvement.
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 8, 9, & 13:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
EM013
Number of EMB members
Question: The EMB is composed of:
Answer:
b . 11 - 20 members (specify)
Comments:
13 members: eight members are judges of the Supreme Court "Tribunal Supremo” (appointed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power), and five are university professors (law and/or political science department) presented by political parties, coalitions or groups of voters with representatives in the Lower Chamber.
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 9:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
EM014
Membership based on
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected on the basis of their:
Answer:
b . Expertise
Comments:
Eight members are judges of the Supreme Court "Tribunal Supremo” (appointed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power), and five are university professors (law and/or political science department) presented by political parties, coalitions or groups of voters with representatives in the Lower Chamber.
The members of the Electoral Administration are selected based on expertise rather than partisanship. This is evident from the following articles:
Article 9, Section 1(a): "Eight Vocales Magistrados del Tribunal Supremo, designados mediante insaculación por el Consejo General del Poder Judicial."
Article 9, Section 1(b): "Cinco Vocales Catedráticos de Derecho o de Ciencias Políticas y de Sociología, en activo, designados a propuesta conjunta de los partidos, federaciones, coaliciones o agrupaciones de electores con representación en el Congreso de los Diputados."
Article 10, Section 1(a): "Tres Vocales, Magistrados de la Audiencia Provincial correspondiente, designados mediante insaculación por el Consejo General de Poder Judicial."
Article 10, Section 1(b): "Dos Vocales nombrados por la Junta Electoral Central entre Catedráticos y Profesores Titulares de Derecho o de Ciencias Políticas y de Sociología o juristas de reconocido prestigio residentes en la provincia."
These sections highlight that members are chosen based on their judicial and academic qualifications, ensuring their expertise in the field.
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 9 & 10:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
EM015
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected by:
Answer(s):
e . Legislature
f . Judiciary
g . Political parties
Comments:
The members of the Electoral Administration in Spain are selected by various entities, including the judiciary, political parties, and the legislature.
Judiciary:
Article 9.1(a): Eight members of the Central Electoral Board are Magistrates of the Supreme Court, designated by the General Council of the Judiciary.
Article 10.1(a): Three members of the Provincial Electoral Boards are Magistrates of the Provincial Court, designated by the General Council of the Judiciary.
Article 11.1(a): Three members of the Zone Electoral Boards are Judges of First Instance or Instruction, designated by the Governing Chamber of the respective Superior Court of Justice.
Political Parties:
Article 9.1(b): Five members of the Central Electoral Board are Professors of Law or Political and Social Sciences, designated by joint proposal of the parties, federations, coalitions, or groups of electors with representation in the Congress of Deputies.
Article 10.1(b): Two members of the Provincial Electoral Boards are Professors of Law or Political and Social Sciences or jurists of recognized prestige, designated by the Central Electoral Board based on proposals from the representatives of the candidacies.
Article 11.1(b): Two members of the Zone Electoral Boards are Law or Political and Social Sciences graduates, designated by the Provincial Electoral Board based on proposals from the representatives of the candidacies.
Legislature:
Article 9.2: If the political parties do not propose the members within the specified period, the Congress of Deputies' Board, after consulting the political groups, proceeds to their designation.
These articles illustrate the mixed model of selection involving the judiciary, political parties, and the legislature.
Source:
Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General”, art. 9:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/ES/espana-ley-organica-5-1985-de-19-de-junio-del-1/
Verified:
2025/04/02
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Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.