On arriving at the hotel where he will follow election night, Luís Marques Mendes said he had noticed during the day that abstention would be lower than in previous elections.
Marques Mendes will await the results "with complete tranquillity"
Sunday, 18 January 2026RSS
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Context & Explainers
Abstention is when eligible voters choose not to vote; it is usually reported as the percentage of registered voters who do not cast a ballot. A falling abstention rate can change electoral outcomes and boost the perceived legitimacy of the result, so a predicted drop — including among younger voters — matters for how parties and candidates plan campaigning and turnout efforts.
