In the current landscape, postal voting has become an essential tool to ensure democratic participation. If you have decided to take advantage of this method for the general elections on July 23rd, we explain how you can both make the request and track your vote.
Tracking postal votes
For those voters who have already requested their postal vote, it is possible to track the status of the request online. You must enter the electronic headquarters of the Electoral Census Office and provide your personal identifier (ID card or passport) and your date of birth. To check the shipment number, follow this link: Check the shipment number (INE).
Additional information about this procedure:
- Procedure name: Consultation of the status of postal vote requests
- Description: Allows voters to know the status of the shipment of documentation for postal voting
- Responsible body: Electoral Census Office
- Matter: Electoral
- Authentication methods: Personal identifier and date of birth
- SIA code: 288326
How to request a postal vote
The request for a postal vote can be made either in person at post offices or online.
In person at post offices
You can request the form at any post office or complete it online on the Electoral Census Office website and print the necessary copies for later submission at the post offices.
Online
If you prefer the online route, you can request a postal vote using an electronic signature through the Correos website. You only need to complete a form that can be submitted electronically without the need to go to a post office.
Who can make this request?
- Voters residing in Spain. After submitting the online request and if it is accepted by the Electoral Census Office, the voter will not be able to vote at the polling station on the day of the election.
- Voters residing abroad who are temporarily in Spain, with the right to vote in the announced elections.
It should be noted that voters residing in Spain who are temporarily abroad, and voters residing abroad who request from their country of residence, cannot request a postal vote.
How to make the online request?
To make the online request, you need to have a DNI Electronic certificate or a valid digital certificate. After completing the required data and electronically signing it, you can download the request.
Once the Electoral Census Office approves the request, the necessary documentation for voting will be sent to the address indicated in your request.
Request deadlines
The request can be made from the date of the announcement until July 13th, 2023, inclusive. From July 3rd, the Electoral Census Office will send the documentation for postal voting to the address indicated in the request.
Once you have received the documentation, you can exercise your right to vote by delivering it at a post office until July 20th, within the usual opening hours of the postal offices.
Finally, it should be noted that Instruction 5/2023, of June 8th, from the Central Electoral Board, requires that the envelope of the postal vote be delivered by the voter themselves. If you cannot go in person, you can authorize another person to do so on your behalf, for which you must submit an authorization signed by the voter and a photocopy of both the official document proving the voter’s identity, and the official identification document of the representative. Correos provides an authorization template to facilitate this procedure. You can download it here.
Spanish post in Guía para realizar la consulta y solicitud del voto por correo para las elecciones generales del 23 de julio
