Province Province of Huelva Population 520,017 (2016) Major settlements Huelva Region Andalusia Seat 5 (1977–) | Autonomous community Andalusia Electorate 396,117 (2016) Seats 5 (1977–) Major settlement Huelva | |
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Created Spanish general election, 1977 | ||
Huelva 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 is one of the eight electoral districts which correspond to the provinces of Andalusia. Huelva is the largest town accounting for almost a third of the electorate and there are no other municipalities with electorates over 15,000.
Boundaries and electoral system
Under Article 68 of the Spanish constitution the boundaries must be the same as the province of Huelva 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
Huelva has returned five members at every election since the restoration of democracy.
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 has been to over-represent smaller provinces like Huelva at the expense of larger provinces. Huelva had a ratio of 75,686 voters per deputy in 2004 a figure below the Spanish average of 98,777 voters per deputy.