There is less and less left for the general elections on July 23 and, possibly, for your ID to expire. If you have just realized that your identity document expires before you go to vote, you are probably wondering what you should do. Will you be left without exercising your right to vote?
Although renewing the DNI seems simple, in key times like summer everything is delayed. Previous appointments are accumulated by those travelers who have decided to renew everything at the last minute. And you, with the countdown to vote, can’t find any police station with a space to renew it. What should you do then?
It is accepted, even if it is expired
In Spain it is possible to vote with an expired DNI in some circumstances. According to the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (LOREG), in its article 85, it is established that voters whose DNI has expired will be admitted to vote, provided they appear on the electoral roll and have not lost their Spanish nationality.
In other words, if you have not renewed your DNI on time, but you continue to appear on the electoral roll and have Spanish nationality, you will be able to vote in the general elections on July 23. This implies that at the polling station they will not impede you, since they will only look at your name to verify your identity. The same is true for voting by mail, where the offices will also review your data regardless of the validity date. Likewise, it is essential that there is a clear photo of your face to properly recognize you.
However, it is important to have a valid ID for any other function. The National Police recommends that you request an appointment in advance the weeks before it expires, so that we never go out with the outdated document. Despite the fact that for voting it is only an accrediting procedure, in other procedures the use of an expired one can be rejected.
Other documents you can use
But, what do I do if I have lost my ID or it has been stolen? Not only are voters found with the expired document, but there are other dramas that influence the right to vote. However, in Spain there are several official documents to be able to identify yourself at a polling station.
Passport and driver’s license are two examples of valid IDs that serve as alternatives to voting. And, as with the DNI, these documents can also be expired and still be accepted. You just have to take into account that they are original and that they have a photograph that allows you to be recognized. That is, it would not be valid to go with an ID from 10 years ago. It will only be accepted if it has been expired for a few months or a few weeks.
To get out of trouble, it is best to always bring the original document, since photocopies or a digital photo are not accepted. And if you do not have any document available to prove your identity, you should go to the National Police to file a report for loss or theft, as well as make an appointment to have one as soon as possible. Remember that you should never be without identification, since it could lead to fines of up to 600 euros.
