Biscay (Basque Parliament constituency)

Biscay
Basque Parliament Electoral Constituency
Location of Biscay within the Basque Country
Province	Biscay
Autonomous community	Basque Country
Population	1,148,775 (2016)
Electorate	948,080 (2016)
Major settlements	Bilbao, Barakaldo, Getxo
Current constituency
Created	1980
Seats	20 (1980–1984) 25 (1984–)
Member(s)	PNV (11)      EH Bildu (5)      Podemos (4)      PSE–EE (3)      PP (2)

Biscay (Basque: Bizkaia, Spanish: Vizcaya) is one of the three constituencies (Spanish: circunscripciones) represented in the Basque Parliament, the regional legislature of the Basque Autonomous Community. The constituency currently elects 25 deputies. Its boundaries correspond to those of the Spanish province of Biscay. The electoral system uses the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation, with a minimum threshold of 3 percent.

Electoral system

The constituency was created as per the Statute of Autonomy for the Basque Country of 1979 and was first contested in the 1980 regional election. The Statute provided for the three provinces in the Basque Country—Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa—to be established as multi-member districts in the Basque Parliament, with this regulation being maintained under the 1983 and 1990 regional electoral laws. Each constituency is allocated a fixed number of 25 seats each, to provide for an equal representation of the three provinces in Parliament as required under the regional Statute. The exception was the 1980 election, when this number was 60.^[1][2][3]

Voting is on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprises all nationals over eighteen, registered in the Basque Country and in full enjoyment of their political rights. Amendments to the electoral law in 2011 required for Basques abroad to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).^[4] Seats are elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 3 percent of valid votes—which, until 1983 and from 1990 includes blank ballots; also and until a 2000 reform, the threshold was set at 5 percent—being applied in each constituency. Parties not reaching the threshold are not taken into consideration for seat distribution.^[1][2][3] Additionally, the use of the D'Hondt method may result in an effective threshold over three percent, depending on the district magnitude.^[5]

The electoral law provides that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors are allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors are required to secure the signature of at least 1 percent of the electors registered in the constituency for which they are seeking election—0.1 percent and, at least, the signature of 500 electors, until 1983; just the signature of 500 electors from 1983 to 1990—. Electors are barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election are required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called—fifteen before 1985.^{[2][3][6][7][8]}

Deputies

Elections

References

Coordinates: 43°15′N 2°59′W / 43.250°N 2.983°W / 43.250; -2.983