Spoiled ballot, blank vote or staying home: the debate explained
A spoiled ballot doesn't count as valid, while a blank vote does count toward seat allocation. Abstaining doesn't hurt, but it leaves the outcome to others. Here's what each ballot actually does.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Voting blank and casting a spoiled ballot are not the same thing: a blank vote is valid and counts toward seat allocation, while a spoiled one is invalidated. Not voting doesn't reduce anyone's result, but it doesn't add anything either.
Spain's electoral law distinguishes between three gestures that are often confused. A blank vote is an empty envelope or an unmarked ballot: it is considered valid and added to the total used to calculate the **3%** threshold required by the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (**LOREG**, Spain's electoral law) to take part in seat allocation. A spoiled ballot, on the other hand, is an invalidated vote: a torn, crossed-out ballot or one marked for more than one candidacy.
## What happens with a spoiled ballot
A spoiled ballot does not count as a valid vote. It is set aside during the count and has no effect on the percentage parties need to clear the **3%** threshold per constituency. In practice, a spoiled ballot is a ballot left out of the game: it takes no seats from anyone and gives none to anyone.
## Blank votes do count toward allocation
A blank vote is a different matter. The **LOREG** treats it as a valid vote and includes it in the total used to calculate percentages. That means a blank vote can help keep a small party below the **3%** mark and out of seat allocation. This is the paradox of the blank vote: someone casting it to show disaffection may be indirectly benefiting the largest parties.
## Not voting: abstention doesn't hurt
Abstention is counted neither as a valid vote nor as a spoiled ballot. It simply doesn't appear. The effect is that each party's percentage is calculated on votes cast, not on the electoral register. The lower turnout is, the more weight each vote cast carries. Those who don't vote leave the allocation to others.
## What the numbers say
In the general election of **November 2019**, turnout was **69.87%**, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Spoiled ballots stood at around **0.5%** and blank votes at **0.7%**. These are small figures, but enough to swing a seat in tight constituencies.
If this matter affects you legally, consult the current electoral legislation or a professional.
Spain's electoral law distinguishes between three gestures that are often confused. A blank vote is an empty envelope or an unmarked ballot: it is considered valid and added to the total used to calculate the **3%** threshold required by the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (**LOREG**, Spain's electoral law) to take part in seat allocation. A spoiled ballot, on the other hand, is an invalidated vote: a torn, crossed-out ballot or one marked for more than one candidacy.
## What happens with a spoiled ballot
A spoiled ballot does not count as a valid vote. It is set aside during the count and has no effect on the percentage parties need to clear the **3%** threshold per constituency. In practice, a spoiled ballot is a ballot left out of the game: it takes no seats from anyone and gives none to anyone.
## Blank votes do count toward allocation
A blank vote is a different matter. The **LOREG** treats it as a valid vote and includes it in the total used to calculate percentages. That means a blank vote can help keep a small party below the **3%** mark and out of seat allocation. This is the paradox of the blank vote: someone casting it to show disaffection may be indirectly benefiting the largest parties.
## Not voting: abstention doesn't hurt
Abstention is counted neither as a valid vote nor as a spoiled ballot. It simply doesn't appear. The effect is that each party's percentage is calculated on votes cast, not on the electoral register. The lower turnout is, the more weight each vote cast carries. Those who don't vote leave the allocation to others.
## What the numbers say
In the general election of **November 2019**, turnout was **69.87%**, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Spoiled ballots stood at around **0.5%** and blank votes at **0.7%**. These are small figures, but enough to swing a seat in tight constituencies.
If this matter affects you legally, consult the current electoral legislation or a professional.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (12 replies).
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