Province Province of Cádiz Population 1,240,284 (2016) Region Andalusia | Autonomous community Andalusia Electorate 993,689 (2016) | |
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Seats 8 (1977–1982; 2011)
9 (1986–2008; 2015–) Created Spanish general election, 1977 Major settlements Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Algeciras, San Fernando, El Puerto de Santa María | ||
Cádiz 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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It was first contested in modern times in the 1977 general election. At the time of the 2008 election, Jerez de la Frontera was the largest municipality with 158,000 voters out of the total electorate of 939,000, followed by Cádiz (105,000), Algeciras (86,000), San Fernando (75,000) and El Puerto de Santa María (65,000).
Boundaries and electoral system
Under Article 68 of the Spanish constitution the boundaries must be the same as the province of Cádiz 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 Cádiz returned 8 members. That figure was increased to 9 members for the 1986 election. It was reduced to 8 members for the 2011 election and regained its 9th member for the 2015 election.
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 2008 Spain had 35,073,179 voters giving an average of 100,210 voters per deputy. In Cádiz the ratio was slightly above that at 106,691