Spain's Central Electoral Board voids ballots with Óscar Puente's name crossed out

Board overturns provincial ruling

On Thursday, 12 November, the Junta Electoral Central (JEC) revoked a decision of the Valladolid provincial electoral board and ruled that ballots in which Óscar Puente's name has been crossed out will be considered null votes. The reversal followed an appeal by the Partido Popular (PP) against the provincial decision, which had treated such ballots as valid. The JEC based its ruling on its established doctrine and on article 96.2 of the General Electoral Law (LOREG), which voids ballots that are modified, altered or marked with candidate names. The board also said it would not accept any attempt to strike Puente's name from the ballots.

Why the name stays on the ballot

Puente renounced the PSOE candidacy for Valladolid on 3 November, but the renunciation came after the lists had already been officially proclaimed. The Valladolid provincial board accepted his withdrawal and filled the vacancy with the next candidates and substitutes, yet it refused the PSOE's request to reprint ballots without his name. The PSOE argued that both the renunciation and its request fell within the legal deadline set by article 70.4 of the LOREG. The JEC rejected the PSOE's appeal on the reprinting, holding that the official ballot model cannot be changed because of a renunciation made after proclamation, so Puente remains the Valladolid list leader.

Puente leaves active politics

Puente, who resigned as transport minister after the Urda railway accident that killed 69 people, went to the Congreso de los Diputados on Thursday for a medical check-up. There he said he will no longer hold public office but will remain a member of the PSOE. He will keep his seat as a deputy until the 29 November general election, because he is a substitute member of the Diputación Permanente and does not want to leave the party a member short with about 20 days to go. Asked about his renunciation, he said:

“I have already renounced the candidacy. I think few more things can be asked of me.”

In an interview with the programme Espejo Público, he also said he would take part in politics from another angle, without holding institutional posts.

Questions over Sánchez

The opposition has questioned whether the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, knew in advance of Puente's resignation. Asked about those doubts, Puente replied:

“The opposition always thinks badly, but it almost never gets it right.”

ABC reported that he delivered the line with a smile. Puente also said he will help the party from a low-profile role, wherever he ends up.

Key dates to the vote

The dispute is anchored in four dates, running from Puente's renunciation on 3 November to the general election on 29 November. The provincial board's decision of 5 November was overturned by the JEC on 12 November. The ballots that will be used on 29 November therefore keep his name, and under the JEC's ruling any ballot with his name crossed out will be counted as null.