Citizens can now start checking if they have been chosen to be part of an electoral board in the general elections on November 29. The draws began on October 31 and will continue until November 4, so thousands of people will find out during these days if they must go to their polling station as president, member, or substitute.
The designation is made through a public draw organized by the city councils among people registered in the electoral census. Once selected, citizens will receive an official notification at their home, although some municipalities also allow checking the result online.
Being part of an electoral board is mandatory when the appointment is received, unless there is a justified cause accepted by the Zone Electoral Board. Therefore, it is important to know the deadlines, requirements, and circumstances that allow requesting an exemption.
How to know if you have been assigned to an electoral board for the 29N elections?
The usual way to know if you have been chosen for an electoral board is to receive an official notification at your home. City councils must communicate the appointments within three days after the draw. Therefore, notifications may arrive until November 7, depending on when each selection was made. However, it is not always necessary to wait to receive the letter. Some municipalities have enabled consultations on their electronic headquarters so that citizens can check if they have been selected. It is also possible to review the notifications available in the Citizen Folder, provided that the corresponding administration is integrated into this service.
To access these platforms, electronic identification will be necessary, for example, through a digital certificate or electronic ID. The availability of the consultation depends on each city council, so there is no single valid search engine for all municipalities. The notification will show the position to be held, which can be president, member, or substitute, as well as the polling station to which one must go and the instructions to comply with this obligation.
Polling stations are made up of a president and two members, along with their respective substitutes. People over 18 and under 70 who can read and write can be elected. In the case of presidents, they must also have a high school diploma, a second-degree vocational training qualification, or a school graduate certificate or equivalent. People between 65 and 69 years old can waive the appointment if they request it within the established period.
What excuses are accepted for not attending a polling station?
Although being part of a polling station is mandatory, the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (LOREG) contemplates different circumstances that allow requesting an exemption. These causes may be related to personal, family, medical, or professional reasons, provided they are justified before the Zone Electoral Board.
Among the reasons that may allow exemption from this obligation are having a recognized disability, being on medical leave, suffering from an illness that prevents performing duties, being pregnant from six months onwards, or having a scheduled hospital admission or an unavoidable surgical intervention. Certain family responsibilities are also contemplated, such as the care of children under nine months, having dependent people in charge, or caring for children under 12 years old when there is no other person who can take care of them. In addition, professional circumstances can be alleged, such as working in essential services for the community or performing functions related to the informative coverage of election day.
To request the exemption, the citizen has seven days from receiving the official notification. During that period, they must present the documentation that proves the alleged reason to the Zone Electoral Board, which will be responsible for studying each case and resolving the request within five days. It is important to note that filing an allegation does not mean being automatically released from attending. The exemption will only be valid when the Electoral Board accepts the reason presented.
Not attending a polling station without a justified cause and without having received authorization can constitute an electoral crime. The legislation contemplates prison sentences of three months to one year or fines of six to 24 months.
