The number of votes from abroad in the presidential election duplicates

(Joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Administration)

The number of votes from abroad in the Presidential Election has doubled when compared to the previous presidential election. The provisional data point to 27.615 votes, whereas in 2016 were recorded 14.150 votes. Although it is still pending in three consular posts, the provisional vote counting will certainly confirm this increase, which is also verified when compared to the number of voters in the election to the European Parliament in 2019, which recorded 13.816 votes.

As national citizens who reside outside Portugal and are registered in the Census Commission of their residence area (corresponding to the address indicated in the Citizen Card), the voters from abroad voted on the 23rd and on the 24th of January, throughout 164 polling stations, in approximately 145 consular services of the Portuguese external network.

The number of voting sites, which was the highest ever recorded and to where 15 tonnes of electoral material we sent, as well as the number of polling stations, represent an increase of 30% when compared to the 2016 presidential election.

This electoral act also marks the first-ever use of dematerialised electoral rolls, made available to the consulates by the Electoral Administration platform of the Ministry of Internal Administration’s General Secretariat.

The consular posts which recorded a higher number of voters were London, Luxembourg, Paris, and Macau, in a descending order. The country, which recorded the highest number of voters, overall, was Switzerland, followed by Brazil, France, and the United Kingdom.

It shall be reminded that, during the early voting from abroad, which took place between the 12th and the 14th of January, the voting right was exercised throughout 117 consular posts by 5.429 national citizens, which corresponds to the highest number ever recorded. The early voting is addressed to the voters registered in national territory and temporarily residing abroad.