LA IMPLANTACIÓN DEL 'VOTO ROGADO' EN ESPAÑA: EL PERJUDICIAL LÍMITE A LA PARTICIPACIÓN ELECTORAL DE LOS ESPAÑOLES RESIDENTES EN EL EXTRANJERO A PUNTO DE ENMENDARSE 1

The reform of electoral legislation about the vote of Spanish citizens residing abroad has generated a political and social debate on the convenience of maintaining the so-called "voto rogado" since its approval in 2011. The legal change sought to increase the guarantees in the exercise of the right to active suffrage abroad, but it actually incorporated another obstacle in the procedure, making it difficult for Spanish residents abroad to vote. As a result, the voter turnout rates of Spanish citizens residing abroad in the electoral processes held from 2011 are lower than those registered before this reform. Recently, the Parliamentary Subcommittee for the electoral reform is debating a legal amendment to repeal "voto rogado", although there is still no unanimous agreement around the new formula for exercising the right to vote of Spanish citizens residing abroad.