Supreme Court partially suspends overseas voting boost from grandchildren law, reshaping Madrid’s electoral register

The grandchildren law, which confers Spanish nationality on descendants of Spaniards, has caused a sharp rise in the overseas voter register (CERA) for Madrid province, bringing its numbers close to those of historically emigrant regions like Galicia. Municipalities across the province report substantial increases, while smaller towns such as Aspa and Muro have seen their overseas electorate share climb dramatically. Nationwide, the CERA expanded by about 20 % from October 2022 to August 2026, with Madrid accounting for the largest share of new registrations.

The Supreme Court has issued a partial paralysis of the law’s electoral effects, halting further additions to the register and restricting voting participation for existing entries unless exile documentation is provided. The Ministry of one outlet notes that hundreds of thousands of applications have been processed, though many remain pending. These changes could influence regional and general elections that count overseas votes at the provincial level.