Melilla 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 autonomous city) elects two 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 two 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 Melilla 1977– Legislature Election Distribution Constituent 1977 2 1st 1979 2 2nd 1982 2 3rd 1986 2 4th 1989 1 1 1990 2 5th 1993 1 1 6th 1996 2 7th 2000 2 8th 2004 2 9th 2008 2 10th 2011 2 11th 2015 2 12th 2016 2 13th 2019 (Apr) 2 14th 2019 (Nov) 2 15th 2023 2

General elections 2023 + Summary of the 23 July 2023 Senate of Spain election results in Melilla Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 26,462 51.23 +16.74 2 ±0 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 12,116 23.46 +6.75 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 8,050 15.58 +6.00 0 ±0 Coalition for Melilla (CpM) 2,671 5.17 −26.06 0 ±0 Unite (Sumar)1 1,554 3.01 +0.47 0 ±0 Animalist Party with the Environment (PACMA) 291 0.56 New 0 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 68 0.13 +0.03 0 ±0 Zero Cuts (Recortes Cero) 40 0.08 +0.02 0 ±0 Blank ballots 404 1.49 +0.39 Total 51,656 2 ±0 Valid votes 27,052 97.27 −0.27 Invalid votes 758 2.73 +0.27 Votes cast / turnout 27,810 45.50 −6.88 Abstentions 33,308 54.50 +6.88 Registered voters 61,118 Sources

November 2019 + Summary of the 10 November 2019 Senate of Spain election results in Melilla Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 19,243 34.49 +8.51 2 ±0 Coalition for Melilla (CpM) 17,427 31.23 +10.34 0 ±0 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 9,326 16.71 −3.34 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 5,345 9.58 −6.54 0 ±0 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (Cs) 2,450 4.39 −7.94 0 ±0 United We Can (Podemos–IU) 1,420 2.54 −1.13 0 ±0 The Greens (Verdes) 169 0.30 New 0 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 55 0.10 −0.03 0 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 32 0.06 −0.14 0 ±0 Blank ballots 334 1.10 −0.13 Total 55,801 2 ±0 Valid votes 30,395 97.54 +0.37 Invalid votes 768 2.46 −0.37 Votes cast / turnout 31,163 52.38 −5.15 Abstentions 28,334 47.62 +5.15 Registered voters 59,497 Sources

April 2019 + Summary of the 28 April 2019 Senate of Spain election results in Melilla Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 16,596 25.98 2 ±0 Coalition for Melilla (CpM) 13,342 20.89 New 0 ±0 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 12,807 20.05 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 10,295 16.12 New 0 ±0 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (Cs) 7,875 12.33 0 ±0 United We Can (Podemos–IU–Equo) 2,346 3.67 0 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 129 0.20 0 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 86 0.13 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 406 1.23 Total 63,882 2 ±0 Valid votes 33,114 97.17 Invalid votes 965 2.83 Votes cast / turnout 34,079 57.53 Abstentions 25,154 42.47 Registered voters 59,233 Sources

2016

2015

2011

2008

2004

2000

1996

1993

1990 by-election

1989

1986

1982

1979

1977

Notes

References

Bibliography