The vote abroad: a pending issue for democracy
CNA / Sara Prim
Barcelona (CNA).- Only 7% of the 200,000
Catalans living abroad voted in the 2012 Catalan elections. This is a
rather poor figure for a community that has grown dramatically during
the last six years, due to the economic crisis and the labour market
situation in Catalonia and Spain. Alongside the economic downturn and
the lack of job opportunities for these people in their hometowns, the
debate regarding the political future of Catalonia and the possibility
of independence from Spain has accelerated and internationalised. The
political agenda in recent years has been filled with many historic
dates, regarded with interest worldwide, and milestones such as 2012’s
much-anticipated Catalan elections and the 9th of November
consultation, both of which have been a test for measuring support on
independence but also to check the health of Catalan and Spanish
democracy. However, many complaints and past scandals regarding the
manipulation of overseas votes in Spanish elections make the vote abroad
a pending issue that has to be solved.
Catalans living abroad voted in the 2012 Catalan elections. This is a
rather poor figure for a community that has grown dramatically during
the last six years, due to the economic crisis and the labour market
situation in Catalonia and Spain. Alongside the economic downturn and
the lack of job opportunities for these people in their hometowns, the
debate regarding the political future of Catalonia and the possibility
of independence from Spain has accelerated and internationalised. The
political agenda in recent years has been filled with many historic
dates, regarded with interest worldwide, and milestones such as 2012’s
much-anticipated Catalan elections and the 9th of November
consultation, both of which have been a test for measuring support on
independence but also to check the health of Catalan and Spanish
democracy. However, many complaints and past scandals regarding the
manipulation of overseas votes in Spanish elections make the vote abroad
a pending issue that has to be solved.
Why is it important to guarantee the vote abroad?
The data indicate that the profile of Catalans abroad is
becoming younger, and as such these individuals are often more
motivated to participate in the future of their country. The data from
2012 also showed that the vote abroad is more pro-independence than the
domestic vote, so those who favour independence have an additional
incentive to encourage the participation of Catalans abroad, even more
so when the result is so difficult to forecast, as is the case for the
upcoming elections on the 27th of September. That is why the
Catalan institutions are working hard to avoid confusing situations and
informing the community living abroad well in advance of both the
deadlines and procedures required in order to exercise their right to
vote.
becoming younger, and as such these individuals are often more
motivated to participate in the future of their country. The data from
2012 also showed that the vote abroad is more pro-independence than the
domestic vote, so those who favour independence have an additional
incentive to encourage the participation of Catalans abroad, even more
so when the result is so difficult to forecast, as is the case for the
upcoming elections on the 27th of September. That is why the
Catalan institutions are working hard to avoid confusing situations and
informing the community living abroad well in advance of both the
deadlines and procedures required in order to exercise their right to
vote.
However, the most important thing is that by ensuring
the vote abroad, the democracy is more realistic and representative.
Those who live abroad have something to say about their country’s future
and sometimes it is a critical point of view, as many of them were
forced to leave because of the economic situation. Be that as it may,
allowing voting from abroad and turning it into an effective and easier
process is an acid test to check on the proper functioning of Spanish
democracy and the way its relationship with Catalonia is regarded
worldwide.
the vote abroad, the democracy is more realistic and representative.
Those who live abroad have something to say about their country’s future
and sometimes it is a critical point of view, as many of them were
forced to leave because of the economic situation. Be that as it may,
allowing voting from abroad and turning it into an effective and easier
process is an acid test to check on the proper functioning of Spanish
democracy and the way its relationship with Catalonia is regarded
worldwide.
A new regulation for voting abroad
The main reason for the low participation in the last
Catalan elections was the change of the electoral law, known as LOREG,
its initials in Spanish - Organic Law of General Electoral Regime.
Approved in 2010, this new regulation turned the vote abroad into a long
and confusing process that introduced the ‘requested vote’ concept. It
dragged out the whole process and meant more agents being involved. The
new regulation and the ‘requested vote’ system was regarded as an
obstacle to voters exercising their right and indeed resulted in lower
participation in other regional elections, such as the Basque and the
Galician ones, also in 2012. Added to this were the many complaints
received pointing to the negligence of some civil servants in
facilitating procedures, deadlines that were not met and ballots that
never reached their destination. With this learning experience behind
them, Catalan institutions have gone on the alert well in advance so
that the same thing won’t happen again in the upcoming elections on the
27th of September.
Catalan elections was the change of the electoral law, known as LOREG,
its initials in Spanish - Organic Law of General Electoral Regime.
Approved in 2010, this new regulation turned the vote abroad into a long
and confusing process that introduced the ‘requested vote’ concept. It
dragged out the whole process and meant more agents being involved. The
new regulation and the ‘requested vote’ system was regarded as an
obstacle to voters exercising their right and indeed resulted in lower
participation in other regional elections, such as the Basque and the
Galician ones, also in 2012. Added to this were the many complaints
received pointing to the negligence of some civil servants in
facilitating procedures, deadlines that were not met and ballots that
never reached their destination. With this learning experience behind
them, Catalan institutions have gone on the alert well in advance so
that the same thing won’t happen again in the upcoming elections on the
27th of September.
A confusing process
The International Federation of Catalan Organisations -
FIEC in Catalan - plays an important role in breaking down all the
procedures and highlighting the deadlines and information needed in
order to vote from abroad. Through its website and using social
networks, FIEC spreads the word on how to meet the LOREG’s requirements,
which documents are necessary and what steps have to be taken to
effectively vote. However, the FIEC has reported on many occasions that
the procedures are too confusing and that there are too many agents
involved in the process. First, those who want to vote have to make sure
they are registered at the proper embassy or consulate and formally
request their vote, known as the ‘requested vote’. Then, the Provincial
Electoral Boards have to print and send the different ballots to the
voter’s domicile and finally the voter has to make his choice and send
the ballots back to his country, all this assuming that the postal
services involved carry out their deliveries on time.
FIEC in Catalan - plays an important role in breaking down all the
procedures and highlighting the deadlines and information needed in
order to vote from abroad. Through its website and using social
networks, FIEC spreads the word on how to meet the LOREG’s requirements,
which documents are necessary and what steps have to be taken to
effectively vote. However, the FIEC has reported on many occasions that
the procedures are too confusing and that there are too many agents
involved in the process. First, those who want to vote have to make sure
they are registered at the proper embassy or consulate and formally
request their vote, known as the ‘requested vote’. Then, the Provincial
Electoral Boards have to print and send the different ballots to the
voter’s domicile and finally the voter has to make his choice and send
the ballots back to his country, all this assuming that the postal
services involved carry out their deliveries on time.
Today, Catalans who live abroad and want to vote in the 27th
of September elections have to choose between three different
procedures, according to their administrative status: those who live
abroad permanently and are consequently registered; those who live
abroad temporarily and are registered as such and those who live abroad
permanently or temporarily but aren’t yet registered (whom are then
considered as Catalan citizens living in Catalonia).
of September elections have to choose between three different
procedures, according to their administrative status: those who live
abroad permanently and are consequently registered; those who live
abroad temporarily and are registered as such and those who live abroad
permanently or temporarily but aren’t yet registered (whom are then
considered as Catalan citizens living in Catalonia).
CERA: Catalans living abroad permanently
Those Catalans who live abroad permanently have to be
registered on the CERA, the Register of Absent Residents, in order to
vote. First, they have to apply to vote. Then, the Electoral Roll Office
automatically sends the form to effectively apply to vote, known as the
‘requested vote’. Alternatively, this form can be obtained from their
consulate or online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the
National Institute of Statistics’ website or the Catalan Parliament
website. Once the voter has this form, he or she has to fill it in, sign
it and send it, together with a photocopy of the voter’s ID, by post or
fax. The deadline for this first step was the 29th of
August. The voter then receives all the ballots from the Electoral Roll
Office and casts their vote. Once they have decided, the ballots have to
be sent by registered post to the Electoral Roll Office by the 22th of September. Alternatively, they can personally deliver their vote to their consulate between the 23th and the 25th of September.
registered on the CERA, the Register of Absent Residents, in order to
vote. First, they have to apply to vote. Then, the Electoral Roll Office
automatically sends the form to effectively apply to vote, known as the
‘requested vote’. Alternatively, this form can be obtained from their
consulate or online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the
National Institute of Statistics’ website or the Catalan Parliament
website. Once the voter has this form, he or she has to fill it in, sign
it and send it, together with a photocopy of the voter’s ID, by post or
fax. The deadline for this first step was the 29th of
August. The voter then receives all the ballots from the Electoral Roll
Office and casts their vote. Once they have decided, the ballots have to
be sent by registered post to the Electoral Roll Office by the 22th of September. Alternatively, they can personally deliver their vote to their consulate between the 23th and the 25th of September.
ERTA: Catalans living abroad temporarily
This register is for those Catalans who are abroad
temporarily or on holidays in another country on election day. To make
the application, the voter must be registered with the Consular Registry
as a non-resident, which can be done at the same time they personally
fill in the application form at a consular office or the consular
section of an embassy. Once registered, they have to request the
documentation required to vote from abroad. The period for submitting it
ended on the 29th of August. Then, the voter receives all
the ballots from the Electoral Roll Office and casts their vote. The
ballot papers have to be sent by registered post to the Electoral Roll
Office by the 23th of September.
temporarily or on holidays in another country on election day. To make
the application, the voter must be registered with the Consular Registry
as a non-resident, which can be done at the same time they personally
fill in the application form at a consular office or the consular
section of an embassy. Once registered, they have to request the
documentation required to vote from abroad. The period for submitting it
ended on the 29th of August. Then, the voter receives all
the ballots from the Electoral Roll Office and casts their vote. The
ballot papers have to be sent by registered post to the Electoral Roll
Office by the 23th of September.
Catalans abroad not registered
For those Catalans living abroad who aren’t listed on
any of these registers, the procedure is the same as for those living in
Catalonia: they will need to travel and vote personally on election day
or apply for a postal vote, meeting the deadlines and undertaking the
procedures required.
any of these registers, the procedure is the same as for those living in
Catalonia: they will need to travel and vote personally on election day
or apply for a postal vote, meeting the deadlines and undertaking the
procedures required.
More on
27-S, Ballots, Catalan Elections, CERA, ERTA, FIEC, LOREG, Vote, Vote Abroad
Voter exercising his right to vote (by ACN)
