Voting Rights
Spain and the UK have signed an agreement on mutual recognition of the right to vote and stand in elections.
This agreement is based on the provisions of Article 13 of the Spanish Constitution on participation by foreign citizens in municipal elections and responds to criteria of reciprocity.
The aim of the agreement is to maintain the status quo regarding the right to suffrage in municipal elections that British citizens enjoyed in Spain - as European citizens - and the Spanish citizens enjoyed in the United Kingdom prior to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
For Spanish citizens:
Municipal elections
Spanish citizens residing in the United Kingdom will be entitled to vote and stand for local elections in the United Kingdom as they have been able to until now. Legal residency is required to do so.
Local elections in the United Kingdom will be understood as local government elections, mayoral elections and mixed elections for municipal authorities.
Elections to the European Parliament
Spanish citizens resident in the UK will be able to vote in the elections to the European Parliament requesting to vote as residents abroad.
For British citizens:
Municipal elections
British citizens residing in Spain will be entitled to vote and stand for municipal elections in Spain under similar conditions as they have been able to until now.
To stand for election, British citizens will need to meet the requirements provided for by Spanish Constitutional Law 5/1985, of 19 June, on the general electoral system.
Elections to the European Parliament
British citizens do not have the right to vote in elections to the European Parliament.
More information on the right to vote is available on the website of the Interior.
Non official translation