Alicante () is one of the 59 constituencies represented in the Senate of Spain, the upper chamber of the Spanish parliament, the . The constituency (whose boundaries correspond to those of the homonymous province) elects four senators. The electoral system uses open list partial block voting, with electors voting for individual candidates instead of parties. Electors can vote for up to three candidates.
Electoral system The constituency was created as per the Political Reform Law and was first contested in the 1977 general election. The Law provided for the provinces of Spain to be established as multi-member districts in the Senate,. with this regulation being maintained under the Spanish Constitution of 1978.. Additionally, 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..
Voting is based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age with full political rights, provided that they have not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence.. The only exception was in 1977, when this was limited to nationals over 21 years of age and in full enjoyment of their political and civil rights.; . Amendments in 2011 required non-resident citizens to apply for voting, a system known as "begged" voting ().. which was abolished in 2022. Further, amendments in 2018 granted the right to vote to those legally incapacitated. 209 Senate seats (207 in 1977, 208 from 1978 to 2026) are elected using open-list partial block voting: voters in constituencies electing four seats can choose up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, up to two; and in single-member districts, one. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces is allocated four seats, while in insular provinces—such as the Balearic and Canary Islands—the districts are the islands themselves, with the larger ones (Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife) being allocated three seats each, and the smaller ones (Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma) one each. Ceuta and Melilla elect two seats each.; ; . Until 1985, the law also provided for by-elections to fill Senate seats vacated up to two years into the legislature; subsequently, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term are filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.; .
The electoral law allows for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance are required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call—15 before 1985—whereas groupings of electors need to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they seek election—one permille of the electorate, with a compulsory minimum of 500 signatures, until 1985—disallowing electors from signing for more than one list. Also since 2011, parties, federations or alliances that have not obtained a mandate in either chamber of the at the preceding election are required to secure the signature of at least 0.1 percent of electors in the aforementioned constituencies.; . Amendments in 2007 required a balanced composition of men and women in the electoral lists, so that candidates of either sex made up at least 40 percent of the total composition; further amendments in 2024 required the use of a zipper system..
Senators Senators for Alicante 1977– Legislature Election Distribution Constituent 1977 1 2 1 1978 1 2 1 1st 1979 3 1 2nd 1982 3 1 3rd 1986 3 1 4th 1989 3 1 5th 1993 1 3 6th 1996 1 3 7th 2000 1 3 8th 2004 1 3 9th 2008 1 3 10th 2011 1 3 11th 2015 1 3 12th 2016 1 3 13th 2019 (Apr) 3 1 14th 2019 (Nov) 2 2 15th 2023 1 3
General elections 2023 + Summary of the 23 July 2023 Senate of Spain election results in Alicante Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 987,289 38.88 +6.71 3 +1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 852,855 33.58 +1.81 1 –1 Vox (Vox) 351,173 13.83 +7.08 0 ±0 Commitment–Unite: We Unite to Win (Sumar–Compromís)1 295,543 11.64 –4.85 0 ±0 Animalist Party with the Environment (PACMA)2 30,914 1.22 –0.56 0 ±0 Walking Together (CJ) 4,548 0.18 New 0 ±0 Zero Cuts (Recortes Cero) 3,081 0.12 –0.06 0 ±0 Blank ballots 14,051 1.59 –0.17 Total 2,539,454 4 ±0 Valid votes 886,241 97.68 +0.04 Invalid votes 21,088 2.32 –0.04 Votes cast / turnout 907,329 69.46 +2.22 Abstentions 398,982 30.54 –2.22 Registered voters 1,306,311 Sources
November 2019 + Summary of the 10 November 2019 Senate of Spain election results in Alicante Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 719,392 32.17 +8.96 2 +1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 710,448 31.77 +2.21 2 –1 United We Can (Podemos–EUPV) 266,791 11.93 –0.30 0 ±0 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (Cs) 214,152 9.58 –6.44 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 150,888 6.75 –4.22 0 ±0 More Commitment (Més Compromís)1 101,919 4.56 +0.06 0 ±0 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 39,702 1.78 –0.23 0 ±0 The Eco-pacifist Greens–Forward (Avant/Adelante–LVEP) 5,493 0.25 –0.06 0 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 4,023 0.18 –0.04 0 ±0 Republican Left of the Valencian Country (ERPV) 3,449 0.15 +0.05 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 2,490 0.11 ±0.00 0 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 1,690 0.08 New 0 ±0 Libertarian Party (P–LIB) 1,146 0.05 +0.01 0 ±0 Blank ballots 14,717 1.76 –0.26 Total 2,236,300 4 ±0 Valid votes 838,203 97.64 +0.84 Invalid votes 20,227 2.36 –0.84 Votes cast / turnout 858,430 67.24 –4.84 Abstentions 418,261 32.76 +4.84 Registered voters 1,276,691 Sources
April 2019 + Summary of the 28 April 2019 Senate of Spain election results in Alicante Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 745,217 29.56 +7.47 3 +3 People's Party (PP) 585,193 23.21 –15.56 1 –2 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (Cs) 403,808 16.02 +3.23 0 ±0 United We Can (Podemos–EUPV)1 308,403 12.23 –10.26 0 –1 Vox (Vox) 276,466 10.97 +10.64 0 ±0 Commitment: Bloc–Initiative–Greens Equo (Compromís 2019) 113,316 4.50 New 0 ±0 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 50,721 2.01 +0.15 0 ±0 The Eco-pacifist Greens–Forward (Avant/Adelante–LVEP)2 7,773 0.31 –0.04 0 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 5,475 0.22 +0.01 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 2,790 0.11 +0.01 0 ±0 Republican Left of the Valencian Country (ERPV) 2,593 0.10 New 0 ±0 Libertarian Party (P–LIB) 1,107 0.04 +0.01 0 ±0 Blank ballots 17,934 2.02 –0.24 Total 2,520,796 4 ±0 Valid votes 888,180 96.80 –0.95 Invalid votes 29,347 3.20 +0.95 Votes cast / turnout 917,527 72.08 +2.22 Abstentions 355,401 27.92 –2.22 Registered voters 1,272,928 Sources
2016 + Summary of the 26 June 2016 Senate of Spain election results in Alicante Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 943,569 38.77 +4.11 3 ±0 The Valencian Way (Podemos–Compromís–EUPV)1 547,386 22.49 –1.27 1 +1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 537,699 22.09 –0.57 0 –1 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 311,396 12.79 –0.81 0 ±0 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 45,291 1.86 +0.18 0 ±0 The Eco-pacifist Greens (Centro Moderado) 8,401 0.35 –0.04 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 8,134 0.33 –0.08 0 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 5,145 0.21 ±0.00 0 ±0 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 4,430 0.18 –0.58 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 2,344 0.10 –0.13 0 ±0 Libertarian Party (P–LIB) 799 0.03 –0.02 0 ±0 Blank ballots 19,305 2.26 –1.83 Total 2,433,899 4 ±0 Valid votes 855,854 97.75 +1.10 Invalid votes 19,699 2.25 –1.10 Votes cast / turnout 875,553 69.86 –1.65 Abstentions 377,743 30.14 +1.65 Registered voters 1,253,296 Sources
2015 + Summary of the 20 December 2015 Senate of Spain election results in Alicante Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 837,024 34.66 3 ±0 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 547,192 22.66 1 ±0 It is Time (Podemos–Compromís)1 494,379 20.47 0 ±0 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 328,461 13.60 New 0 ±0 United Left of the Valencian Country–Popular Unity in Common (EUPV–UPeC) 79,492 3.29 0 ±0 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 40,478 1.68 0 ±0 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 18,451 0.76 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 9,884 0.41 New 0 ±0 The Eco-pacifist Greens (Centro Moderado) 9,440 0.39 New 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 5,583 0.23 0 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 5,047 0.21 New 0 ±0 Valencian Country Now (Ara PV)2 1,700 0.07 0 ±0 Democratic Forum (FDEE) 1,222 0.05 New 0 ±0 Libertarian Party (P–LIB) 1,114 0.05 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 35,423 4.09 Total 2,414,890 4 ±0 Valid votes 865,298 96.65 Invalid votes 29,952 3.35 Votes cast / turnout 895,250 71.51 Abstentions 356,691 28.49 Registered voters 1,251,941 Sources
2011
2008
2004
2000
1996
1993
1989
1986
1982
1979
1978 by-election After the death of Julián Andúgar, a by-election was called to elect a new senator in Alicante. This election was held concurrently with a by-election in Oviedo.
+ Summary of the 17 May 1978 Senate of Spain by-election results in Alicante Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1 120,322 36.27 –14.06 1 ±0 Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) 108,617 32.74 –1.48 0 ±0 Communist Party of Spain (PCE) 57,306 17.27 New 0 ±0 People's Alliance (AP) 35,752 10.78 +3.35 0 ±0 Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT) 5,887 1.77 New 0 ±0 Liberal Progressive Party (PPL) 3,846 1.16 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 0 0.00 Total 331,730 1 ±0 Valid votes 331,730 100.00 Invalid votes 0 0.00 Votes cast / turnout 331,730 Abstentions Registered voters Sources
1977 + Summary of the 15 June 1977 Congress of Deputies election results in Alicante Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 585,519 37.34 n/a 2 n/a Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) 536,584 34.22 n/a 1 n/a People's Socialist Party–Socialist Unity (PSP–US) 203,683 12.99 n/a 1 n/a People's Alliance (AP) 116,465 7.43 n/a 0 n/a Democratic Socialist Alliance (ASDCI) 40,758 2.60 n/a 0 n/a Christian Democratic Team of the Spanish State (FDC–UDPV) 35,982 2.29 n/a 0 n/a Spanish Social Reform (RSE) 27,190 1.73 n/a 0 n/a National Alliance July 18 (AN18) 21,823 1.39 n/a 0 n/a Blank ballots n/a Total 1,568,004 4 n/a Valid votes n/a Invalid votes n/a Votes cast / turnout n/a Abstentions n/a Registered voters 677,156 Sources
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