Poles residing or staying temporarily in Spain, for example as tourists, can take part in the vote – provided that certain procedural requirements are met. Below you will find a guide to the formalities involved in participating in the ballot for the election of the President of the Republic of Poland.
Registration in the electoral register abroad
A key tool to enable voting is the electronic e-Election platform. It allows people to register for the electoral register without visiting a consular post. The registration process includes:
1. choice of the voting district corresponding to the place of residence in Spain.
2. entry of personal data: name, surname, PESEL number, address of residence abroad and information on the identity document (passport or identity card).
3. providing the mother’s family name to verify identity.
The system automatically validates the data by linking to national registers, eliminating the need to submit additional documents. Registration is possible up to 5 days before the first round of the election for President of the Republic, i.e. 13 May 2025 at the latest.
Those who do not have the opportunity to use the e-election platform can submit an application:
- In person at the consular office of your choice (e.g. Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Madrid or Barcelona).
- By post or e-mail – by sending a scanned, self-signed form.
All applications must include proof of address of residence in Spain and up-to-date contact details (e-mail or telephone number with country code).
Location of polling districts in Spain
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up 20 voting districts in Spain, located, among others:
- in Madrid: Avenida Miraflores 50, Calle Felipe IV 12, Calle Goya 15,
- in Barcelona: Comandant Benitez 6, Carrer de Déu and Mata 111,
- in Alicante: Avenida de Elche 3, Avenida Alfonso X El Sabio 11,
- in the Canary Islands: Adeje (Tenerife), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Three circuits are located in Malaga:
- OKW 107 – Málaga I: Calle San Jacinto 2, 29007 Málaga,
- OKW 108 – Málaga II: Calle San Jacinto 2, 29007 Málaga,
- OKW 109 – Málaga III: Calle San Jacinto 2, 29007 Málaga.
The full list of addresses is available on the websites of the Polish diplomatic missions in Spain and on the e-Election platform.
Voting schedule for the elections for President of the Republic of Poland
- First round: 18 May 2025, 7:00-21:00 local time.
- Second round (if necessary): 1 June 2025, at the same times.
In regions of Spain where the time difference could result in voting ending after midnight Polish time (e.g. the Canary Islands), voting will take place on 17 May 2025.
Documents required
On the day of voting you must present:
- Valid Polish passport or identity card.
- Confirmation of registration in the electoral register (automatically generated after successful registration via the e-Election platform).
In case of loss of an identity document, it is acceptable to present a consular certificate confirming Polish citizenship.
Postal voting
Unlike the 2020 elections, the current legislation does not provide for postal voting for citizens residing abroad. The only permissible form is to visit the polling station in person.
Certificate of the right to vote
An alternative way to participate in voting is to obtain a certificate of the right to vote, which allows you to cast your vote at any polling station in Poland or abroad. An application for its issue is submitted:
- in Poland: at the municipal office until 15 May 2025,
- abroad: at the Polish consul until 13 May 2025.
Participating in voting in the elections for the President of the Republic of Spain requires timely completion of formalities, mainly through the e-Election platform. The key elements of the process are: choosing the correct voting precinct, filling in your personal information accurately and turning up in person at the polling station on polling day – with a valid identity document.
