Bethlehem May |
Madrid (EFE)
In the general elections of November 2019, 217,227 voters opted for the blank vote, almost 1%. In the CIS barometer of May 2023, 3.4% of those surveyed stated that they would choose the blank vote in the next elections.
How do you vote “blank”?
To vote blank, an empty envelope, without a ballot, must be inserted into the ballot box.
In the case of the Senate, the ballot can also be inserted in the envelope but without marking any candidate.
What is its meaning?
In general, the blank vote is interpreted as a gesture of discontent towards the political class but expressing, at the same time, support for the democratic system.
It is a vote that does not go directly to any of the candidacies that are presented in the elections, but it does influence the results: it makes the parties need more votes to get a seat.
To calculate the distribution of seats in Spain, the D’Hont Law is used. It is a proportional calculation system and establishes that no candidacy can obtain seats if it is not done with 3% of the valid votes. Thus, the more votes there are at the polls, the more difficult it can be for a small party to get 3% of those votes.
That is the reason why it is said that the blank vote “gives away seats” to the largest parties.
How is it different from a null vote?
Unlike invalid votes, which are considered invalid by the Electoral Law, blank votes do count. These are votes deposited in the ballot box in compliance with legal requirements and counted for participation purposes.