AIMA urges foreign residents to register for October local elections
Despite making up about 15% of the resident population, foreigners represented only 0.3% of registered voters in Portugal by late 2024.
AIMA is calling on foreign residents with legal status to register to vote in the municipal elections scheduled for October 12.
In a multilingual campaign on social media, the agency explains that eligible voters must sign up at the Junta de Freguesia corresponding to the address on their residence permit, presenting a valid residence document.
Once registered, they will be added to the parish’s official electoral roll (Caderno Eleitoral) and informed of their assigned polling station.
The registration process is mandatory and closes 60 days before election day, according to the National Election Commission (CNE), setting the deadline at August 11.
Voters can confirm their registration by checking the rolls on the Portal do Recenseamento (SGMAI) or by sending a free SMS to 3838 with the text: “RE (space) Portuguese ID card number (space) date of birth (format yyyymmdd).”
Example: “RE 7424071 19871103.”
Who’s eligible to vote?
Foreign residents from the following groups can vote in the municipal elections if they meet the required conditions.
Citizens of any EU member state (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, and Sweden) are eligible.
UK citizens who were living in Portugal before Brexit may also register. Brazilian citizens with political equality status can vote automatically, while Brazilians without this status and citizens of Cabo Verde must have lived legally in Portugal for more than two years.
Additionally, nationals of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, or Venezuela must have been legal residents in Portugal for more than three years to be eligible.
Low participation
Although they represent around 15% of the resident population, foreigners accounted for only 0.3% of registered voters in Portugal by the end of 2024, according to data from the Voter Portal of the Secretariat‑General of the Ministry of Internal Administration (SGMAI).
Among them, 16,985 had acquired Portuguese nationality, which grants them automatic registration.
All other foreign residents must actively enroll at their local parish council (Junta de Freguesia.
Of the total registered, 15,613 were voters from EU countries residing in Portugal, and 18,552 were voters from other foreign countries.
In terms of nationality, the majority were Brazilians (25.03%) and Cape Verdeans (16.89%).
A study by the Department of Economic, Business and Public Policy Studies (G3E2P) at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) revealed that immigrant membership in Portuguese political parties is marginal or nonexistent, similar to what happens in the rest of Europe.
Researchers argue that if parties actively recruited immigrants to represent foreign residents, the country’s population diversity would be better reflected in Parliament.
They also stress that all foreign residents may apply for Portuguese nationality after five years (which the Government’s proposal now wants to change) in the country, gaining full political rights, but the analysis by G3E2P at FEP highlights that low registration and voter participation prevent the political potential of immigrants from translating into effective representation.
I wouldn't be too concerned, Ohdear... Most immigrants are too consumed with negotiating the process of being legally allowed to remain here and go about their daily business, securing basic rights to worry about the wheels of democracy.
Not sure why AIMA think this is a good use of their scant resources. Voting is important, but I'd recommend that they stick to their primary role and improve their efficiency when handling visa and residency applications and renewals. Especially given the imminent Nationality Law legislation, making immigrants feel like their future is here might provide the required impetus for voting.
Cue a politics-influencing chunk of the voting public voting for self-interest/ freebies rather than what is best for the country. That is the inevitable result of welcoming lots of economic migrants.