With Spain's general election approaching on Sunday, 29 November 2026, voters in Ibiza and across the country who cannot attend their assigned polling station in person have the option of voting by post.

The postal voting process is already open, but there are two important deadlines that voters must remember. Applications must be submitted by Thursday, 19 November, while completed ballots must be deposited at a Correos post office no later than Wednesday, 25 November.

The process involves requesting postal voting, receiving the official electoral documentation, completing the ballot papers and returning the envelope through Correos. It is important to complete each step within the established deadlines, as simply requesting a postal vote does not mean that the ballot has automatically been cast.

Here is everything voters need to know about applying, the documentation required, the delivery process and the deadlines for the upcoming general election.

What Is the Deadline to Request a Postal Vote?

The deadline to request postal voting for the 29 November general election is Thursday, 19 November 2026, inclusive.

Applications have been open since 6 October, the date on which the election was officially called.

Eligible voters can submit their application in two ways:

1. In person at a Correos office

Applications can be made at any Correos post office in Spain.

The voter must complete the official application form and present an original identification document, such as:

• Spanish National Identity Document (DNI).

• Passport.

• Driving licence.

The identification document must be presented in its original form. Photocopies are not accepted as a substitute for the required identity verification.

The application must normally be submitted personally by the voter.

In cases of illness or disability that prevent someone from applying in person, another person may submit the application on their behalf, provided the required official medical certification and notarial or consular authorisation are supplied.

2. Online through Correos

It is also possible to request postal voting electronically through the Correos website.

For this option, applicants must identify themselves using an accepted electronic signature, such as a recognised digital certificate or electronic DNI (DNIe).

The online application allows voters to complete the process without visiting a post office to submit the initial request.

Official information and application:

https://www.correos.es

When Will the Postal Voting Documents Arrive?

Once the application has been submitted, the Provincial Electoral Census Office checks the voter's registration and processes the request.

The electoral documentation is being sent to successful applicants between 9 and 22 November 2026.

The documents are delivered by certified post to the address specified in the application.

Importantly, this does not have to be the voter's usual home address. Applicants can indicate another suitable postal address, such as their workplace or a postal box, provided they can personally receive the documentation and complete the identification procedure.

The delivery contains the materials required to cast the postal vote, including:

• Official ballot papers for the Congress of Deputies and Senate.

• Voting envelopes.

• The certificate confirming registration in the electoral census.

• An envelope addressed to the relevant polling station.

• Instructions explaining how to prepare and submit the vote.

The voter must receive the documentation and complete the process according to the instructions provided.

How to Complete Your Postal Vote

Once the electoral documentation arrives, voters must prepare their ballots carefully.

The process involves the following steps:

Step 1: Choose your ballot papers

Select the appropriate ballot paper for the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.

The Congress uses a white ballot paper, while the Senate uses a sepia-coloured ballot paper.

Step 2: Place the ballot papers in their voting envelopes

Insert the selected ballot paper into its corresponding voting envelope and close it.

For a blank vote, the voting envelope is submitted without a ballot paper, following the official instructions.

Step 3: Prepare the documentation

Place the voting envelopes and the certificate confirming registration in the electoral census inside the larger envelope addressed to the relevant electoral table.

Follow the instructions supplied with the documentation carefully.

One important detail: do not place your DNI, passport or another identification document inside the voting envelope. The identification procedure takes place when the postal vote is submitted through Correos.

Step 4: Take the completed vote to Correos

The completed electoral documentation must be submitted at a Correos office by Wednesday, 25 November 2026.

The voter must identify themselves when depositing the ballot.

The postal voting service is free, and no postage payment is required.

What Is the Final Date to Send the Postal Vote?

The final deadline for submitting postal ballots is Wednesday, 25 November 2026.

This is the last day on which voters can deposit their completed postal voting documentation through Correos for the 29 November general election.

Although the application deadline is 19 November, voters should not confuse it with the final date for sending the completed ballot.

The two stages have separate deadlines:

Voters are advised not to leave the process until the final days, particularly if they need to receive their documentation at an address where delivery may be difficult.

Can You Change Your Mind and Vote in Person?

No. This is one of the most important rules of postal voting in Spain.

Once a postal voting application has been accepted and the corresponding entry has been made in the electoral census, the voter cannot subsequently attend their usual polling station and cast another ballot in person on election day.

This restriction is designed to prevent someone from voting twice.

For this reason, anyone considering postal voting should be confident that they will be able to complete the process and return their ballot within the established deadlines.

If the documentation has not arrived or there is a problem with the application, voters should contact Correos or the Electoral Census Office as soon as possible.

What If You Cannot Personally Deliver Your Postal Vote?

The normal procedure requires the voter to identify themselves when submitting the completed ballot at a Correos office.

However, if someone is unable to attend personally, another person may deposit the documentation on their behalf.

In this situation, Correos requires an authorisation signed by the voter, accompanied by a photocopy of their identification document.

Correos provides an authorisation model to facilitate this procedure.

The representative must follow the required identification and authorisation instructions when submitting the envelope.

What About Spanish Citizens Living Abroad?

Spanish citizens living outside the country follow a different postal voting procedure.

There are two main categories: those permanently registered as residents abroad in the Electoral Census of Absent Residents (CERA), and those who are temporarily abroad during the election period.

Spanish citizens permanently living abroad

Electors registered in the CERA census do not need to request postal voting in the same way as residents in Spain.

The Electoral Census Office sends the necessary documentation to their registered address abroad.

For the 29 November election, the postal voting process includes:

• Sending the first electoral documentation package between 24 and 30 October.

• Sending the second package between 4 and 14 November, depending on whether candidate lists have been challenged.

• Sending postal ballots to the relevant consulate by 24 November.

• Alternatively, depositing the vote personally in the designated ballot boxes at consulates between 21 and 26 November.

Spanish citizens temporarily abroad

Spanish citizens who are temporarily outside Spain during the election must follow a separate procedure.

They must register as non-resident at the relevant Spanish consulate and submit their postal voting application personally by 31 October 2026.

Their completed ballot must be sent by certified post no later than 25 November.

These procedures have different deadlines from those applicable to voters living in Spain, so citizens abroad should consult the official instructions for their particular registration category.

Where Can You Find Official Information?

Voters who need additional information about postal voting can consult the following official services:

Correos

For application procedures, post office locations, identification requirements and postal voting arrangements.

Website: https://www.correos.es

National Statistics Institute (INE)

For electoral census information, the official electoral calendar and postal voting procedures.

Website: https://www.ine.es

Spanish Government

For general information about the 29 November election, voting arrangements and procedures for Spanish citizens abroad.

Website: https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es

Important Dates Before Spain's 29 November Election

For residents in Ibiza and elsewhere in Spain who intend to vote by post, the most important dates are:

• 19 November: Final day to request postal voting.

• 22 November: Final day of the scheduled period for sending electoral documentation to applicants.

• 25 November: Final day to submit completed postal ballots through Correos.

• 28 November: Official day of reflection.

• 29 November: General election day.

The most important thing is to remember that requesting postal voting is only the first step. Voters must also receive their documentation, complete the ballot correctly and submit it through Correos before the final deadline.

Anyone who expects to be away from their registered polling location on 29 November should make arrangements as early as possible to ensure they can exercise their right to vote.