As a result of the many consultations from Catalan citizens whose entry in the ERTA Registry of the Spanish consulates has not been permitted, the Catalan Government Area of Electoral Processes and Popular Enquiries has required clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on the criteria and conditions for registration. The Ministry has replied with the following arguments.
In accordance with the regulations on the registration of Spanish citizens with consular offices abroad, registration in the electoral census of residents absent abroad (CERA) is compulsory for those citizens whose stay abroad has the quality of permanence or is extended in time. In contrast, registration for citizens temporarily abroad in the ERTA Registry is optional, is valid for one year and is not renewable.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation advises that, generally, the condition of occasional and, therefore, with access to the ERTA Registry, will apply to those citizens who at the time of registering with the consulate have not been established in a foreign country for more than one year and this is certified by their documentation. Those who have been away for more than one year must be entered in CERA.
In spite of this general rule, the Ministry advises that it is in the competence of each consular office to decide, having studied the circumstances of each specific case, the entry as temporary or permanent in the consular Registry.
The Ministry justifies the refusal of entry in the ERTA Registry basically on this obligation of registration as a permanent resident when, in principle, the residence abroad is for more than a year. Also, according to the Ministry, there is a comparative dislocation for electoral purposes between the one and the other, in view of the fact that a permanent resident, when the claims period has ended (17 August), has now no other option of inclusion in the census for these elections, while for those who are temporarily abroad the period for registration and asking for electoral documentation continues until 29 August. It is understood, therefore, that some people could resort to registration as temporarily abroad simply to exercise their right to vote, without fulfilling the obligation of registration.
For all these considerations and in accordance with the timetable of the electoral process, for citizens resident abroad who are not yet included in the census of their consular office as permanent residents, or who have made the appropriate claims and are not permitted registration in the ERTA Registry, there only remains the possibility of voting in Catalonia (in person on 27 September or in advance by post).
For specific enquiries and other questions, citizens can write to the Area of Electoral Processes and Popular Enquiries by e-mail to eleccions.governacio@gencat.cat.