Cape Verde Election: 67 Polling Stations Open in Portugal
The Cape Verdean diaspora in Portugal will have significant access to the ballot box this Sunday, as the nation prepares to elect its next president. The Cape Verdean Embassy in Lisbon announced that 67 polling stations will be operational across Portugal, spanning the mainland and the Azores.
According to consular officials, polls will be open on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The stations are strategically distributed to reach the country\’s large expatriate community, with locations in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley, the Northern and Southern regions, and the islands of Terceira, Pico, and São Miguel in the Azores.
Voting Requirements and Locations
To participate, registered Cape Verdean citizens must present a civil identification document. The embassy noted that authorities will accept identification issued by Cape Verde even if it is expired. Voters may also use a valid Portuguese residence permit, a local passport, or a valid ID from a third state that confirms their identity.
Citizens can verify their specific polling location via the official websites of the National Elections Commission (CNE) and the General Directorate for Support to the Electoral Process (DGAPE).
A High-Stakes Election
Out of the 426,531 registered voters for this election, approximately 18%—nearly 77,000 people—live abroad. The diaspora vote remains a critical demographic in Cape Verdean politics.
Incumbent President José Maria Neves, who secured 51.8% of the vote in the first round five years ago, is seeking a second term. If successful, he will continue a long-standing national tradition; every Cape Verdean president since 1991—Mascarenhas Monteiro, Pedro Pires, and Jorge Carlos Fonseca—has served two consecutive terms.
The race features a diverse field of challengers, including:
- Joana Rosa: A former minister and the first woman ever to appear on a Cape Verdean presidential ballot.
- Antero Tavares: A veteran judge.
- Casimiro de Pina: A university professor.
- Gilson Alves: A prominent businessman.
- Loisito Sousa: A secondary school teacher.
Regional Breakdown of Polling Stations
In the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, voters can find stations in Almada, Amadora, Barreiro, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Moita, Odivelas, Oeiras, Seixal, Sintra, and Vila Franca de Xira.
The Northern Region will host stations in major hubs including Porto, Coimbra, Braga, and Aveiro, while the Southern Region will serve voters in Faro, Setúbal, Évora, and Beja, among others.
Image: Pexels – Edmond Dantès
