It won’t come as a surprise, but many foreign residents complain about their town hall and the services they receive. There is a simple adage: if you don’t vote, don’t complain.

Municipal voting in Spain

Voter turnout among expats in Spain’s municipal elections has historically been quite low. While exact numbers fluctuate by region and year, reports suggest that only a small percentage of eligible foreign residents actually participate—sometimes as little as 10–20%. Many do not register or are unaware of their rights, despite having the opportunity to influence decisions in their local communities.


Representation in Town Halls

The degree to which foreign residents are directly involved in the decision-making of Spanish town halls varies. In some towns with large expatriate communities, foreign residents have been elected as local councillors or have advisory roles, ensuring their voices are heard regarding local issues and services. However, in many cases, despite their numbers, foreign residents may not take full advantage of their rights to vote or participate, which can limit their influence on municipal matters.

Portugal - What difference could your vote make

In some areas, where there is a large expatriate community, your vote could make a massive difference. Areas, especially in the Algarve, have potential voter numbers that could change the outcome of the local election. The Portugal News has been gathering potential voter numbers from officially available statistics.

Even those who supplied us with the figures cast doubt on the absolute accuracy of the figures they have given, so take them as a good guide. Even taken as a guide, it’s clear that in certain areas, the expatriate vote could be powerful.

Who should you vote for

Don’t vote for a party, vote for what you see around you. If your town hall is well run, vote to keep them in power. Politicians who want to take control will make a lot of promises. That’s how politics works. If your town hall is badly run, you can vote for change. I personally live in Lagoa. We have a very well-run town hall that respects the expatriate community, has excellent municipal services, from waste services to water and road cleaning. We even now have municipal police to back up the GNR for very local matters. I will vote to keep them in power because they are doing a good job. Other parties may claim they could do a better job, but where’s the evidence? Your town hall may be different. If they are not doing a good job, you may have the power to make a change.

The other factor to consider is what experience does a challenging party have. Running a town hall and a local community is complex and complicated. The President of your town hall may not belong to a party you sympathise with. It really doesn’t matter if your town hall is doing a good job; don’t risk changing to a party that may not have the experience to maintain, let alone improve, the services you receive.


It’s a sad observation on politics, but the reality is that a prospective politician can only get your vote with promises. How else can they tempt you to vote for them? At a local level, experience is what counts. Promises are not always kept, even if they are made with the best of intentions.

Which are the best-run town halls

Determining the "best-run" local councils in Portugal is subjective and depends on the specific criteria used for evaluation. However, some municipalities consistently receive positive feedback for their governance and public services. Lisbon and Porto, due to their size and economic activity, often stand out; some smaller municipalities in the Algarve and Alentejo regions have been praised for their strong community bonds, effective local governance, and ability to leverage their unique cultural and natural assets.

Register and vote, you can make a difference

Registering to vote is quick and simple. There is a simple guide here. If you are reading this article in the print edition, search for ‘vote’. You can also look here or search for Portal do Eleitor, it's all in English. It will only take you a few minutes and you will receive a voter card. Bear in mind that the local councils want the foreign community to vote, so expect a friendly reception.

Then wait for the election date to be announced. Usually, it’s held at a local school, it's quick, easy and very important. There should be little or no waiting.

If your local town hall is well run, vote to keep them in. If there are evident problems, you might want to vote to change. Pay attention to candidates put forward by the larger parties; they are the most likely to have the backing of an experienced team. It's all in your hands.

Author

Resident in Portugal for 50 years, publishing and writing about Portugal since 1977. Privileged to have seen, firsthand, Portugal progress from a dictatorship (1974) into a stable democracy. 

Paul Luckman