Province Province of Gipuzkoa Population 716,834 (2016) Region Basque Country | Autonomous community Basque Country Electorate 580,706 (2016) | |
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Seats 7 (1977–1989)
6 (1993–) Created Spanish general election, 1977 Major settlements Donostia / San Sebastián, Irun | ||
Gipuzkoa (Spanish: Guipúzcoa) 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%.
Contents
It elects six members of the three hundred and fifty in the Congress. It is situated in the Basque Country and the largest city is Donostia-San Sebastián.
Boundaries and electoral system
Under Article 68 of the Spanish constitution the boundaries must be the same as the province of Gipuzkoa 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 from 1977 until 1989 Gipuzkoareturned seven members. That figure was reduced to six members from the 1993 General Election onwards. Gipuzkoa was one of the few districts whose electorate fell between 2000 and 2004.
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) Gipuzkoa had a ratio of 96,970 voters per deputy in 2004 a figure very close to the Spanish average of 98,777 voters per deputy.