Latest news and stories about early voting in Portugal for expats and residents.
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A second ballot shortens the timelines, but early voting remains guaranteed.

Observador explains the steps between rounds: when new ballot papers are prepared, how the second round campaign schedule starts, and how voting abroad and early voting are organised ahead of the run‑off. The piece outlines practical deadlines and the funding rules that apply to candidates in the next stage of the contest. Voters, expatriates and campaign teams should check official notices about deadlines, consular voting windows and any registration requirements ahead of the second round.
Reaching the second round means no candidate obtained an absolute majority (>50%) in the first ballot, so the top two candidates face a runoff to decide the winner, usually a few weeks later. For expats following a campaign, the runoff intensifies media attention and often forces candidates to broaden appeal to voters who supported eliminated candidates in the first round.

Portugal began voting on Sunday to choose the next President of the Republic. Around 200,000 voters registered for early voting, a moment that officially marks the start of the most unpredictable elections in recent years.

Almost 80% of the more than 27,000 voters registered to vote early in Lisbon for the presidential election had exercised their right to vote by around 17:20, the mayor said, based on a sample. 'Of those 27,000 registered, of which 15,000 are from the Lisbon district, we had ...'

As of 19:00, early voting in Lisbon recorded an 80% turnout.

On the day of early voting for the Presidential election, Carlos Moedas was at the Cidade Universitária to take stock of turnout at the polls. Also: the latest developments in the presidential campaign.

There are 27,653 registered voters to cast their ballots at 118 polling stations spread across the seven buildings of the university campus.

At 4pm, Marcelo says early voting is a step forward for democracy.

By 14:00, 17% of those registered in Lisbon had cast their ballots in advance.

The President emphasised that early voting is a “contribution” to democracy.
The Head of State emphasised that it could be by 'one, two or three' votes that 'one wins and another doesn't'.

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said today that early voting is 'a step forward for democracy' and reminded that every vote can make a difference to the outcome of the presidential election. 'It is a fundamental contribution, it is a step forward for democracy,' he told journalists after casting his early vote at Cidade Universitária in Lisbon.

The Head of State emphasised that it may be by “one, two or three” votes that “one wins and the other doesn't”.

The head of state voted early because it would be 'complicated' to go to the polls on 18 January due to the visit of his Estonian counterpart to Portugal.
At 10:00, early voting gets under way as registered voters start to cast their ballots ahead of the main election day.

With the presidential campaign entering its second week, early voting takes place this Sunday.

At 09:00, early voting stations open and voters start to cast their votes.


Voters must today go to the polling station in the municipality they chose when registering, identify themselves and state the parish in which they are registered.

The right to vote early can be exercised this Sunday only by those who registered in advance. Around 218,000 people are eligible to vote today.

If you registered to vote this Sunday but are unable to do so, you can vote next Sunday.

Around 11 million voters resident in Portugal and abroad are registered to vote in the presidential election.

Presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes appealed today to voters who will cast their ballots early, asking them to choose the candidate who is 'best prepared' for the office and who has the most experience in government.

Registrations for early voting in the presidential election on 18 January close this Thursday. Voters registered in the national territory who opt for early voting will cast their ballots on 11 January; registrations can be completed online at www.votoantecipado.pt or by sending a letter to the General Secretariat. The deadline is final, so eligible voters — including citizens abroad who qualify under the rules — should register now to ensure their participation. The short deadline raises potential administrative and turnout implications for campaign planning and electoral logistics.
