Autonomous community Extremadura Electorate 558,228 (2016) Province Province of Badajoz | Population 686,730 (2016) Founded 1977 Region Extremadura | |
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Seats 7 (1977–1982)
6 (1986–) Created Spanish general election, 1977 Major settlements Badajoz, Mérida, Don Benito, Almendralejo | ||
Badajoz is one of the 52 electoral districts (Spanish: circunscripciones) used for the Congress of Deputies—the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales. The electoral system uses the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation, with a minimum threshold of 3%.
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Located in Extremadura in south west Spain, it is the largest electoral district in Congress in terms of geographical area. Badajoz is the largest town with a population of 150,000. Mérida, with over 50,000, and Don Benito and Almendralejo with over 30,000, are the next largest municipalities.
Boundaries and electoral system
Under Article 68 of the Spanish constitution the boundaries must be the same as the province of Badajoz and under Article 140 this can only be altered with the approval of congress. Voting is on the basis of universal suffrage in a secret ballot. The electoral system used is closed list proportional representation with seats allocated using the D'Hondt method. Only lists which poll 3% or more of all valid votes cast, including votes "en blanco" i.e. for "none of the above" can be considered for seats. Under article 12 of the constitution, the minimum voting age is 18.
Eligibility
Article 67.3 of the Spanish Constitution prohibits dual membership of the Cortes and regional assemblies, meaning that candidates must resign from Regional Assemblies if elected. Article 70 also makes active judges, magistrates, public defenders, serving military personnel, active police officers and members of constitutional and electoral tribunals ineligible.
Number of members
In the general elections of 1977, 1979 and 1982 Badajoz returned 7 members. That figure was reduced to 6 members for the 1986 election and it has stayed at that figure since then.
Under Spanish electoral law, all provinces are entitled to a minimum of 2 seats with a remaining 248 seats apportioned according to population. These laws are laid out in detail in the 1985 electoral law. (Ley Orgánica del Régimen Electoral General) The practical effect of this law has been to overrepresent smaller provinces at the expense of larger provinces.
In 2004 Spain had 34,571,831 voters giving an average of 98,777 voters per deputy. In Badajoz the ratio was slightly below that at 89,775.