Local Elections allow a wider range of people from different nationalities to exercise their right to vote. The registration of non-Portuguese people is essential. Several organisations are involved here, such as parishes and municipalities, as well as other organisations that can act as catalysts for the process. The CNAIM, associations, and other organisations can play a fundamental role in clarifying and stimulating this process, which must be done in good time.

Who can vote in local elections? Which nationalities and what are the requirements? How and when to register? These and other questions will be answered in this very practical session.

The session is aimed primarily at local authorities, such as parish councils and municipalities, but is also of interest to all organisations that contact and work with migrants in Portugal.

Registration is free but compulsory. Places are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Speaker

Carla Luís is the coordinator of VOTEdhr - Elections, Democracy and Human Rights and a researcher at CES - Centre for Social Studies. She works in the area of Elections and Democracy with international and national institutions such as the Council of Europe, the European Union, IDEA, ODIHR/OSCE, the Carter Centre, and UNDP, among others. Member of the Electoral Integrity Project, on the international advisory board. Member of the National Electoral Commission from 2009 to 2022. Co-author of several annotated electoral laws, among others. Professor at the Faculty of Law of the Lusíada University of Lisbon. She teaches in the areas of Electoral Observation and Electoral Justice, among others. BRIDGE certified trainer. Master's in Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) and Law degree from FDUNL. PhD from the University of Coimbra, with a thesis on the UN and the impact of electoral systems.

Target audience

Anyone who deals with elections in their various guises at the local and parish level: civil servants, local elected officials, members of parties or candidates, groups of voting citizens, polling station officials and delegates, and journalists from the local press, among others. The course is also relevant for students, researchers and those interested in the field of democracy in general.