Local elections participation down by 6.47 points until 6pm across Catalonia

Early turnout for the local elections has decreased as compared to the last voting in 2019 by 6.47 percentage points.

Participation stood at 44.54% by 6 pm, as announced by the Spanish interior ministry. Four years ago, the local vote coincided with the European election and the figure was 35.69%. 

The region of Barcelona saw 44.17% of voters cast their ballot until 6 pm (down by 6.36 points). Meanwhile, the figure was 4s4.16% in Girona (-8.68), 47.34% in Lleida (-5.86), and 46.00% in Tarragona (-5.61).

In the city of Barcelona, turnout stood at 48.66%, in 2019, 51.98% of residents had exercised their right as of 6pm.

Voters in Catalonia have until 8 pm local time to vote.

Turnout at local elections has never surpassed 70% since restoring democracy in Spain after Francisco Franco's dictatorship. In fact, the highest figure registered was in 1987, when 68.52% of voters cast their ballots. On the other hand, 2007 saw the lowest turnout, with 53.86%.

Meanwhile, in 2019, 3,514,413 representing 64.81% of the 5,422,553 people with the right to vote, cast their ballot.