The number of foreign citizens able to vote is increasing. In Sunday’s elections, 0.3% of those registered on the electoral roll do not have Portuguese citizenship, and according to data collected by Negócios, there are seven parishes where at least one in ten is foreign citizens.
The parishes with the highest proportion of foreigners able to vote for local authorities are most prevalent in the south, specifically in the provinces of Beja and Faro, but in Arganil, in the Coimbra region, there is also a parish above 10%: Benfeita (with 14.52% of foreigners among the resident population) .
In the province of Beja, three of the dioceses with the largest number of foreigners are concentrated in Odemira: São Martino das Amoreiras (10.89%), Reliqueas (13.53%) and Luzianes-Gar (22.67%). In the case of this latter parish (Luzianes-Gare), the data reveal that more than one in five voters is foreign. In Faro, two of the seven parishes with more than 10% foreigners among their residents are in Vila do Bispo: Barão de São Miguel (17.65%) and Budens (10.94%). Also in the Union of Bensafrim and Barão de São João Nationals, in Lagos, there are 11.54% of foreigners registered in the electoral register.
In the municipality of Lisbon, Santa Maria Mayor is the parish with the highest proportion of foreign voters – One in 40 voters -, Followed by Saint Anthony. By comparison, Arroios is reputed to have many but not as many foreigners: 1.26%, that is, 1 in 80 voters does not have Portuguese citizenship.
In the municipality of Porto, all parishes have a residual percentage of foreign electors.
The collected data also reveal that more than half (1,583) of the 3,092 parishes do not have any foreign electors. At the county level, 12 out of the 15 counties with the highest proportion of foreigners belong to Faro.
According to the Ministry of Internal Administration, a total of 29,814 foreigners will be able to vote in the local elections, among more than 9 million voters who will be called to the polls. Of these, 13,924 are from European Union member states and 15,890 are from third countries, mainly Cape Verde, Brazil and the United Kingdom.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.