In Extremadura, voter turnout at polling stations has dropped significantly by midday. By 2:00 p.m., only 35.76% of registered voters had cast their ballots. By comparison, at the same point during the 2023 elections, turnout stood at 41.65%. For the first time, the region is holding elections to the Assembly separately, without simultaneous voting for municipal or national bodies.
Expectations for voter turnout were high: traditionally, Extremadura records some of the highest participation rates in the country. In 2019, turnout reached 69.3%, and in 2023 it was 70.35%. However, this election is taking place under unusual circumstances: voting was postponed to December because the budget could not be passed, and now the election coincides with the holiday period. According to some candidates, this may have encouraged many people to stay home.
Campaign highlights
This time, nearly 891,000 residents of the region are eligible to vote, including 27,000 casting ballots for the first time. Polling stations will be open until 8 p.m. Candidates are urging citizens not to ignore the election. María Guardiola, considered the frontrunner in the polls, visited a polling station in person and addressed voters. Her opponent, Socialist Miguel Ángel Gallardo, expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of the vote, arguing that the festive atmosphere and cold weather could lead to lower turnout.
This year, the region has come under especially close scrutiny. The whole country is watching the elections in Extremadura, as for the first time they are not taking place alongside other major electoral campaigns. This has created a unique situation in which local issues and candidates are at the center of national attention.
The impact of the weather
On election day, a cold snap hit Extremadura, which was especially felt in mountain areas such as Piornal and Sierra de El Torno (Cáceres). The first snow fell here, and temperatures dropped significantly. For a region with a predominantly elderly population, such weather conditions can pose a serious obstacle to getting to the polling stations.
Local authorities note that the weather always affects turnout, but this time it coincided with other factors—holidays and an unusual voting format. Taken together, this may have dampened interest in voting, especially among older residents.
Incidents and security
Despite an overall calm atmosphere, election day was not without incidents. In the morning, two attempted thefts were reported at local post offices. The first took place at around 6:45 am in Malpartida de Cáceres, where the perpetrators failed to steal anything and mail voting was not affected. The second attempt occurred in Alagón del Río (Cáceres), where the thieves could not enter the post office, but managed to get into the town hall and took a small amount of cash.
Otherwise, polling stations opened on time at 9 a.m., and no serious violations were reported. Regional government officials stated that the situation is under control and security is being provided by Guardia Civil officers.
Expectations and results of the day
By 6 p.m., new turnout data is expected, which will show whether voters have managed to catch up or if the downward trend will persist until the end of the day. The voting results will be announced after the polls close at 8 p.m. For Extremadura, these elections have been a kind of test: for the first time, the region is at the center of national attention, and residents are facing new campaign conditions.
