Citizens designated as alternates of a polling station for the general elections of November 29, 2026 have the same initial attendance obligations as the chairpersons and regular members. Although their function is to replace one of them if they are unable to perform the position, being appointed as an alternate does not mean that one can stay at home until receiving a call nor that it is enough to check beforehand whether the regular member intends to attend.
The Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (LOREG) establishes that all members of the polling stations, including alternates, must report to the polling place at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 29, one hour before voting begins. This is also stated in the instruction manual approved by the Government on last October 27, which regulates the operation of the polling stations during election day. However, the obligation to remain at the polling place disappears for those alternates who are ultimately not needed once the polling station has been constituted.
If the regular member appears, can the alternate leave the polling station?
Yes. If the chairperson and the two regular members appear and the polling station is properly constituted, the alternates may leave the polling place without needing to remain for the rest of the day. The regulations establish that each polling station must have a chairperson and two members, while alternates only take these positions when a vacancy occurs.
Article 83 of the LOREG states that at 8:30 a.m. the act of constituting the polling station is formalized, a document in which the people who will perform the functions of chairperson and members are identified. Once this procedure is completed, the alternates who have not had to replace anyone are freed from their obligations. If incidents occur, the procedure may be delayed, so 8:30 should not be interpreted as an automatic departure time.
Before leaving the polling place, it is advisable to make sure that the polling station has been constituted and that attendance as an alternate is recorded. The electoral instructions provide for the collection of the data of those who have appeared and do not have to remain for the rest of the day, as well as the delivery of an attendance certificate. This document may be especially useful if the citizen needs to prove to their employer that they have fulfilled the electoral obligation.
What happens if the president or one of the members does not show up on 29N
The situation changes when any of the three full members does not appear at 8:00 a.m. In that case, the alternates must occupy the vacant positions following the order established in their appointment. The law provides for two alternates for each position, so the first alternate is called on first and, if that person is also unavailable, the second.
If the president is absent, their first alternate must replace them. In the absence of both, the second alternate will assume the position and, if they also do not show up, the presidency will correspond to the first full member or, failing that, the second member. The member positions that remain vacant will be filled by the corresponding alternates.
The alternate who finally occupies a position ceases to act as a reserve and becomes an effective member of the polling station, with the same functions and responsibilities as the full member. This means that they must remain during the voting, participate in the count, and complete the necessary formalities at the close of the day.
In addition, if the full member arrives late when the polling station has already been officially constituted with their alternate, they cannot automatically recover their position. The composition of the polling station is fixed in the constitution record and the alternate who has assumed the position must continue performing it.
What happens if I am a second alternate and do not go to the elections
Being a second alternate also does not allow attendance to be avoided. Both the first and second alternates are obliged to appear at 8:00 a.m., although the chances of the second ending up occupying the position are lower. The order of designation determines who first replaces the full member, but it does not establish differences in the initial obligation to appear.
Failure to comply may have legal consequences. Article 143 of the LOREG establishes penalties of imprisonment from three months to one year or a fine from six to twenty-four months for presidents, members and alternates who fail to attend or perform their functions without legitimate cause, abandon their obligations, or unjustifiably fail to comply with the duties of excuse and prior notice.
Therefore, the fact that the full member eventually appears does not justify the alternate having stayed at home. The legal obligation consists of appearing at the indicated time, since until the polling station is constituted it cannot be definitively determined who must remain during the vote.
Are alternates on the polling station board paid if the principal shows up?
The financial compensation provided for members of the polling stations applies to those who ultimately serve as presidents or members, including alternates who have to replace a principal. By contrast, alternates who show up at 8:00 a.m. and are released after the board is constituted are not entitled to collect the allowance simply for having attended.
This distinction also affects work leave. Those who actually perform a role on the board are entitled to paid leave during election day, when they would otherwise be due to work, and to a reduction of five hours in their workday on the following day, Monday, November 30.
On the other hand, alternates who do not end up becoming part of the board do not automatically acquire these rights by merely appearing. If they have to work during the election morning, they may justify the time necessary to fulfill their obligation, but they must return once they have been released.
How to submit an excuse if you are an alternate and cannot attend on November 29
Alternates may also request to be exempt from attending the polling station when there is a justified cause. For this, they have seven days from receipt of the official notification to present their arguments before the corresponding Zona Electoral Board, along with the documents proving the impediment.
The Electoral Board is responsible for studying each request and deciding whether to accept or reject the excuse. Among the circumstances that may justify the absence are certain medical, family, or professional situations set out in the criteria of the Central Electoral Board. Submitting a request does not automatically exempt one from the obligation, so the interested party must know the resolution.
If the inability to attend arises after the initial deadline has passed, it must be communicated to the Zona Electoral Board at least 72 hours in advance. When the cause arises within the last 72 hours, it will be necessary to notify immediately and, in any case, before the constitution of the board.
In this way, the citizens designated as alternates for 29N must keep in mind a fundamental difference: their obligation to attend begins at 8:00 a.m., but their obligation to remain ends when the polling station is constituted and it is confirmed that they do not have to replace any principal member.