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Where and how to vote?
Primary method: Voters have to vote in person in a specific polling station based on their home address. Aside from a few exceptions (see below), voting must be done in person.
It is only possible to find out the place of voting in the 15 days before each election. Outside this period, individuals can only check in which municipality they are registered. Individuals can find out where their voting location is in online (https://www.recenseamento.mai.gov.pt/) or in person at their municipality or by SMS (instructions available here: https://eportugal.gov.pt/en-GB/servicos/saber-onde-votar).
Alternative methods: Voters who are prevented from going to the polling station on election day may vote early in the following situations:
- hospitalised patients;
- prisoners not deprived of political rights;
- citizens in mobility;
- citizens abroad.
Voters who are seriously ill or disabled and who are unable to vote alone may be accompanied by another voter of their choice. They may need to prove this by producing a medical certificate proving the impossibility of voting alone, issued by a doctor who is registered municipality. Voting by mail, online or by proxy are not possible in Portugal.
Polling day requirements: On the election day, voters should go to their designated polling station. Voters must bring a valid form of identity bearing their photograph to the polling station , such as citizen card or identity card or passport.
Who can vote?
General. An individual must meet the following requirements to vote in EP elections in Portugal:
- be a Portuguese national, a Brazilian national residing in the national territory with status of equal political rights or a national of another EU Member State;
- be registered vote (i.e., listed in the Electoral Register); and
- be at least 18 years old to vote on election day.
Mobile EU citizens. EU citizens must be resident in Portugal in order to vote there.
Registration requirements.
Nationals (and Brazilian citizens with status of equal political rights). Voter registration is mandatory. Once registered, enrolment in the Electoral Register is done automatically by the authorities based on the address indicated on an individual’s Citizen Card (note: registration takes place when an individual picks up their Citizen Card). This applies to nationals residing in Portugal and abroad. If the citizen changes address, they must have their address on the Citizen Card modified before the 60-day period prior to any election in order for the new voting location to take effect.
Portuguese nationals living outside Portugal can vote from abroad. Portuguese nationals holding a citizen card with an address abroad are automatically registered at the consular post of the country where they reside. Those only holding an identity card need to register to vote with the Portuguese consulate of the country where they live.
Mobile EU citizens. Voter registration is voluntary. To register to vote, mobile EU citizens need apply to the local election office in their municipality at least 60 days before elction day. They must provide (i) a valid residence title (Registration Certificate for an EU Citizen, Residence Card, or Residence Permit); (ii) an official declaration specifying your nationality and address in Portugal; and, if applicable, (iii) details of their registration in the electoral roll of the local municipality of the home State where they were last registered. Once registered, enrolment in the Electoral Register is done automatically by the authorities.
Exclusions
Portuguese nationals who have been deprived of their voting rights and mobile EU citizens who have been deprived of their voting rights in Portugal or in their home Member State cannot vote in EP elections in Portugal.