Largest adherence ever to the early voting from abroad

(Joint statement by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defence, and Internal Affairs)

It was registered the largest adherence ever to the early voting from abroad

According to preliminary data, approximately 5.400 national citizens voted in the Portuguese presidential election early from abroad. This is the highest number of early votes from abroad ever recorded. The voting took place between the 12th and the 14th January in 115 posts of the Portuguese consular network, located in 73 countries. Of the total number of votes, more than 400 correspond to votes cast by the military forces and security forces deployed in several operational areas around the world, including in Afghanistan and in the Central African Republic.

There has been a significant increase in the number of citizens who exercised the early vote from abroad when compared to the data verified in the last elections, namely in the elections towards the European Parliament (844) and towards the Assembly of the Republic (4413), both in 2019.

The early voting from abroad is addressed to the citizens registered in national territory but temporarily residing abroad, if those citizens are in one of the following situations:

a) Residing abroad due to the exercise of public functions;

b) Residing abroad due to the exercise of private functions;

c) Residing abroad officially representing a national team, organised by a sports federation endowed with a public sport utility status;

d) As students, researchers, teachers, and research fellows residing abroad in higher education institutions, research units, or equivalent recognised by the competent ministry;

e) Patients receiving treatment abroad;

f) Living or accompanying the voters mentioned in the previous points.

According to the Electoral Law of the President of the Republic and the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, it shall be reminded that the voting right is exercised in person and directly by the voters.

Abroad, the election takes place on the 23rd and the 24th January, allowing the Portuguese citizens, who reside outside Portugal and are registered in the Census Commission (CR) of their residence area (corresponding to the address indicated in the Citizen Card), to vote.

This election abroad will have approximately 171 polling stations spread throughout 150 consular services, a number which represents an increase of 30% when compared to the number of polling stations established in 2016 (121). The list is available at the following link: