More than 218,000 registered voters began casting ballots Sunday through Portugal’s early and mobile voting system as the country prepares to choose a successor to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Early voting took place one week before the main election day on Jan. 18, using a flexible system that allows citizens to cast ballots at any designated polling station nationwide.
Presidential candidates continued campaigning across the country, with most events concentrated in the north. The field includes Antonio José Seguro, Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Luís Marques Mendes and João Cotrim de Figueiredo, among others.
If no candidate wins an absolute majority in the first round, a runoff between the top two contenders is set for Feb. 8.
Rebelo de Sousa was among those voting early, having registered “to call attention to this modality that allows greater flexibility for Portuguese citizens to vote,” according to an earlier statement. Voting is not compulsory in Portugal.
Please confirm details with an official election source, as procedures and timelines can change.
