Melilla (Congress of Deputies constituency)

Melilla is one of the 52 constituencies (Spanish: circunscripciones) represented in the Congress of Deputies—the lower chamber of the Spanish parliament, the Cortes Generales—. The constituency currently elects one deputy using plurality voting. Its boundaries correspond to those of the autonomous city of Melilla.

Electoral system

The constituency was created as per the Political Reform Act 1977 and was first contested in the 1977 general election. The Act provided for the provinces of Spain to be established as multi-member districts in the Congress of Deputies,^[1] with this regulation being maintained under Article 68.2 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. Additionally, Article 141.1 of the Constitution requires for any modification of the provincial limits to be approved under an organic law, needing an absolute majority in the Cortes Generales.^[2]

Voting is on the basis of universal suffrage, with all nationals over eighteen and in full enjoyment of all political rights entitled to vote. The only exception was in 1977, when this was limited to nationals over twenty-one and in full enjoyment of all political and civil rights. Amendments to the electoral law in 2011 required for Spaniards abroad to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).^[3] 348 seats are elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 3 per 100 of valid votes—which includes blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Parties not reaching the threshold are not taken into consideration for seat distribution. Additionally, the use of the D'Hondt method may result in an effective threshold over three percent, dependant on the district magnitude.^[4] Each provincial constituency is entitled to an initial minimum of two seats, with the remaining 248 allocated among the constituencies in proportion to their populations. Ceuta and Melilla are allocated the two remaining seats, which are elected using plurality voting.^[2][5][6][7]

The electoral law provides that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors are allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors are required to secure at least the signature of 1 per 100 of the electors entered in electoral register of the constituency for which they are seeking election—0.1 per 100 and, at least, the signature of 500 electors, until 1985—. Also since 2011, parties, federations or coalitions who have not obtained a mandate in either House of Parliament at the preceding election are required to secure at least the signature of 0.1 per 100 of the electors entered in electoral register of the constituency for which they are seeking election. Electors are barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election are required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days from the election call.^[5][7]

Deputies

Elections

2016 general election

2015 general election

2011 general election

2008 general election

2004 general election

2000 general election

1996 general election

1993 general election

1990 by-election

1989 general election

The results of the 1989 general election in Melilla were declared void by the Spanish Constitutional Court because of perceived irregularities in the vote tally, with provisional results awarding the district's single seat to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) by 507 votes.^[8] After a by-election was held on 25 March 1990, the district's seat was won by the People's Party (PP) by a large majority of 3,007 votes.^[9]

1986 general election

1982 general election

1979 general election

1977 general election

References

Coordinates: 35°16′N 2°56′W / 35.267°N 2.933°W / 35.267; -2.933