Cape Verde Elections: 84 Polling Stations Open in Portugal
Cape Verdean citizens living in Portugal are preparing to head to the polls this Sunday, May 17, as the nation holds its legislative elections. To accommodate the largest diaspora voting bloc, the Cape Verdean embassy in Lisbon has announced the establishment of 84 polling stations spanning the length of the country.
Extensive Voting Network
The polling stations will be distributed across the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, the North and South Regions, and the Autonomous Region of the Azores. According to the National Elections Commission, Portugal holds the highest number of registered Cape Verdean voters abroad, with 26,415 people eligible to cast their ballots. This far outpaces other major diaspora hubs, including the United States (13,872) and France (11,017).
Where and How to Vote
Polls will remain open on Sunday from 08:00 to 18:00. Registered citizens can vote by presenting any civil identification document issued by Cape Verdean authorities—even if expired. Voters may also use a valid residence permit or passport from Portugal, or a valid ID from a third state that clearly identifies the holder.
In the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, stations will be available in key areas including Almada, Amadora, Barreiro, Cascais, Loures, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra, Vila Franca de Xira, and at the embassy in Lisbon.
Those in the North can vote in cities such as Porto, Coimbra, Braga, and Aveiro, while southern voters can find stations in Faro, Portimão, Loulé, and Sines, among others. Voters in the Azores can cast their ballots on the islands of Terceira, Pico, and São Miguel.
High Stakes in the Legislative Race
The election comes at a time of significant civic engagement, with total registered voters reaching 419,755—a 7% increase compared to 2021. The political stakes are high as the country decides its leadership for the coming years.
Incumbent Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, leader of the Movement for Democracy (MpD), is seeking a third consecutive term. Challenging him is the main opposition force, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), led by Francisco Carvalho, the current mayor of the capital city. Meanwhile, the Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union (UCID) is campaigning to break the traditional two-party dominance, aiming to hold the balance of power in the event of a hung parliament.
Cape Verdean citizens can confirm their specific polling location via the official websites of the National Elections Commission or the General Directorate for Support of the Electoral Process.
Image: Pexels – Edmond Dantès
