Elections Begin in Andalusia: Polling Stations Open and Commissions Underway. Election day has begun in Andalusia for the regional parliament. More than 6.8 million voters are choosing 109 deputies. The main intrigue: will the PP secure a majority without needing Vox's support?
In Andalusia, polling stations opened on the morning of March 17 for regular elections to the regional parliament. At 8:00 a.m., the formation of 10,403 election commissions began, and if there are no technical failures, voting will start at 9:00 a.m. This time, 6,812,861 residents of the region are invited to the polls—2.58% more than in the previous elections, thanks to nearly 369,000 new voters.
The main intrigue of the campaign is whether the Partido Popular, led by Juan Manuel Moreno, can secure an absolute majority. According to polls, the party is leading, but it is possible that it will need the support of Vox to form a government. If the PP fails to gain enough seats, coalition negotiations are likely.
The Socialists, under the leadership of María Jesús Montero, hope to stop the decline in their ratings, but forecasts give them about 23% of the vote—potentially PSOE's worst result in the region's history. Last time, in June 2022, the PP received 41% of the votes, while turnout then was 58.36%.
Regional authorities note that preparations for the elections proceeded without major incidents. Special attention is being paid to ensuring transparency and security in the process. This year, tens of thousands of young voters will go to the polls for the first time, which could affect the final distribution of seats.
For comparison, in other regions of Spain, voter turnout and political competition also remain high. For example, there were recently intense MotoGP qualifying races in Catalonia, where Pedro Acosta took pole position, and the fight for the lead was marked by crashes and unexpected results — you can read more about this event in the article about MotoGP qualifying in Barcelona.
Andalusia is the most populous region of Spain, and the results of these elections traditionally influence the country's political landscape. The regional parliament consists of 109 deputies who determine internal policy, the budget, and key social programs. The outcome of the vote may serve as an indicator of sentiments ahead of future national elections.
