Vox seeks to end mail-in voting for Spaniards abroad, PSOE pushes back

Vox has formally requested the Junta Electoral Central (JEC) to suspend mail-in voting for Spaniards registered in the CERA (Census of Resident Absentees), arguing the system is “opaque” and vulnerable to fraud. The party also asked to halt new registrations linked to the Democratic Memory Law, known as the “ley de nietos,” which grants nationality to descendants of exiles Source: infobae, abces.

What Vox demands

Vox insists that overseas voting should only be allowed in person at consulates or embassies, claiming the current process lacks identity verification and chain-of-custody guarantees. José María Figaredo, the party’s parliamentary secretary, alleged that without proper controls “the PSOE could direct votes to key provinces” Source: infobae, abces. He cited a “terrifying” 17.9% increase in CERA registrations between 2023 and 2026 as evidence of potential manipulation Source: abces.

PSOE’s response

The PSOE in the Dominican Republic categorically rejected the proposal, calling it a “grave attack” on the rights of over three million Spaniards abroad. It emphasized that mail-in voting is fully regulated with security and traceability guarantees, and accused Vox of promoting a “regressive and discriminatory” measure that violates constitutional equality Source: hoydo, diariolibree. The party also criticized the PP for staying silent on the issue Source: diariolibree.

Legal challenge to the ‘ley de nietos’

Separately, Vox has taken the Justice Ministry’s 2022 instruction implementing the Democratic Memory Law to the Supreme Court, seeking its annulment and a suspension of nationality grants. The party argues that the instruction illegally expands the scope of the law, allowing the government to “adulterate the electoral census” and commit “fraudulent” voter registration Source: lavanguardia, abces. Vox had previously challenged the law itself at the Constitutional Court but was rejected Source: lavanguardia.