The end of the requested vote and its limited impact on the 2023 Spanish elections

Abstract

Organic Law 2/2011 modified the LOREG to introduce the requirement of the request to vote for Spaniards who live in foreign countries with the purpose to end the shadow of doubt of electoral fraud. This reform enjoyed broad technical support but caused an unwanted effect: the drastic drop in the electoral participation.

Organic Law 12/2022 abolished the obligation to request the vote and introduced measures to facilitate the exercise of the vote and preserve the electoral guarantees of security, secrecy and reliability in order to prevent electoral fraud. This electoral reform was a resounding demand of all social, political, institutional and academic sectors. As soon as the lethal effects on the electoral participation of citizens were detected, there was an unanimous demand aimed at suppressing the requested vote. The 2022 reform has not only suppressed the requested vote but has incorporated multiple novelties aimed at facilitating and promoting external suffrage but adding guarantees to preserve the identification of the voter. Guarantees that, as demonstrated in the 2023 elections, have not been detrimental to an efficient management and development of the electoral process since no notable problems were detected.

However, the increase in turnout in the 2023 general elections has not been sufficiently satisfactory as it is still far from the traditional thresholds. The cause of the maintenance of this low participation of the external vote can be found in the demobilizing effect caused by the frustrating hardships and frustrations that for a long decade have suffered the compatriots to exercise their right to vote.

Summary

I.- INTRODUCTION. II.- THE REASON FOR REVERSING THE 2011 ELECTORAL REFORM: THE COLLAPSE OF ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION ABROAD. III. A LOST DECADE. IV.- THE 2022 ELECTORAL REFORM: A) The suppression of the request to vote. B) The recovery of the ex officio dispatch of electoral documentation. C) Split postal voting. D) A increase in the number of polling stations. E) The inalienable verification of the identity of voters. F) The extension of the time limit for the receipt of electoral documentation and the extension of the voting and counting periods. G) Limited use of the internet: ballots that can be downloaded electronically. H) Free of charge and guarantees of transparency, security and secrecy. V.- THE ELECTIONS OF 28 MAY AND 23 JULY 2023: TEST BED FOR THE VOTE FROM ABROAD AFTER THE SUPPRESSION OF THE REQUESTED VOTE. VI.- CONCLUSION: THE LIMITED IMPACT OF THE SUPPRESSION OF THE BEGGED VOTE ON VOTER TURNOUT.