Portugal's 2025 Local Elections: Everything You Need to Know Before You Vote

Portugal's 2025 Local Elections

Voters are called to the polls this Sunday, between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, to choose the local power for the next four years.

Here’s what you need to know about voting day:

Voters

According to the Electoral Administration of the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration, 9,285,175 voters are registered for these elections. They are called to vote using three ballots: a green ballot (for the municipal council), a yellow ballot (for the municipal assembly), and a white ballot (for the parish assembly).

Candidates

A total of 817 political forces and citizen groups are competing, having submitted 12,860 candidate lists for 3,837 local government bodies. According to the latest data compiled by the National Election Commission (CNE), more than 300 parishes have only one candidate list.

Parishes

In this Sunday’s local elections, 302 parishes that were merged or abolished in the 2012 reform will be reinstated. For the voter, according to the CNE, only the name of the parish where they are registered changes. The majority of polling stations from previous elections will remain the same.

Polling Station

To find out where you vote, send an SMS to 3838 with: RE [space] ID/CC number [space] Date of birth (YYYYMMDD). You can also check the website www.recenseamento.pt.

Schedule

You can vote between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM this Sunday. After this time, only voters already inside the polling station can vote.

Documents

You should bring your citizen card or any other official document with an updated photo, such as a passport or driver’s license. According to the CNE, voter identification via digital citizen card is also allowed.

Null Votes

Votes are considered null if more than one square is marked, there is doubt about which square was marked, any cut, drawing, or erasure is made, or any word is written on the ballot.

Propaganda

This Sunday, propaganda is prohibited and is punishable by up to 6 months in prison or a fine of at least 60 days. This prohibition includes any activity that could influence voters, even indirectly, regarding their vote, as well as displaying symbols, acronyms, signs, badges, or stickers of any lists near the polling stations.

Presence

Candidates are allowed to remain and intervene in polling stations, but this is only justified in the absence of their respective delegate. In any case, they cannot perform acts or contribute to others performing acts that constitute, directly or indirectly, propaganda for their candidacy, nor can they enter polling stations accompanied by entourages or supporters.

Transport

According to the National Election Commission, only in exceptional situations can special public transport be organized to ensure voters’ access to polling stations. Vehicles used should not be driven by holders of positions in local authorities.

Priority

People with disabilities or incapacities, the elderly, pregnant women, and people accompanied by infants should be given priority over other voters in the queues to vote.