Unanimous Approval for Electoral Law Changes in Madeira: What You Need to Know

Electoral Law Overhaul in Madeira

The Specialized Committee of the Assembly of the Republic has unanimously approved the proposal for a second amendment to the electoral law for the Regional Assembly of Madeira. The original document dates back to February 2006 and is considered outdated in relation to current realities.

This proposal is the result of a joint effort between PSD and PS, previously endorsed by the Madeira plenary. It will now move from the Specialized Committee to the São Bento chamber for a final global vote.

The aim is to implement these changes in the upcoming early elections, expected to be held in the second half of March, pending a decision from the Palácio de Belém.

While the approved document still requires a final regional opinion, there is strong belief that it will be ratified swiftly, allowing for implementation within two months.

Despite some disagreement on a few articles, the proposal was passed unanimously. The main changes include:

• Parity Law: Ensuring that in every three names on the list, two must be of one gender and one of another.
• Early Voting: Implementation of early voting in mobility.
• Accessibility Enhancements: Introduction of braille templates at polling stations to facilitate voting for visually impaired citizens.