Living on the Costa del Sol has given me a completely different perspective on politics, community, and everyday life.
As an American mami from Los Angeles now raising a bicultural family in southern Spain, election season here in Andalucía has been fascinating to watch, not just politically, but culturally.
This year especially, the campaigns felt incredibly modern. Between the viral videos, emotional storytelling, polished visuals, and social media strategies, many of the parties approached voters more like lifestyle brands than traditional political campaigns.
And today, while my husband, born and raised in Andalucía, headed to our local polling place in Málaga Ciudad to vote, I realized how interesting it is to experience democracy from the inside of another culture instead of simply observing it from afar.
So I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes look at election day here in Andalucía, along with some thoughts on the campaigns themselves and a few common myths I’ve heard repeated over and over during this election season.
The Campaigns Felt More Like Branding Than Politics
Working in social media and branding through La Mami Life and Marca en Redes, I couldn’t stop noticing how much political communication has changed.
Every campaign seemed carefully designed around emotion, identity, and shareability.
Juanma Moreno: Selling the Feeling of Andalucía
Juanma Moreno’s campaign leaned heavily into optimism and regional pride.
The “Kilómetro Sur” campaign video looked almost cinematic, filled with beautiful imagery of Andalucía, warm colors, music, and scenes that felt more connected to lifestyle marketing than traditional politics.
It reminded me a lot of modern American campaigns where the focus isn’t only policy, it’s creating an emotional connection and a sense of identity.
The message was clear:
stability, quality of life, and protecting the Andalucía people love.
María Jesús Montero: Focusing on Everyday Concerns
María Jesús Montero’s campaign felt much more centered around public services and daily life.
Healthcare came up constantly throughout the campaign, along with conversations around workers, families, and affordability.
As a parent living in Spain, it was interesting to see how central public healthcare is to political conversation here compared to the United States.
The tone of the campaign felt more urgent and emotional, focused on issues people deal with every day.
Manuel Gavira: Built for Social Media
VOX’s campaign style immediately stood out online.
Fast edits, emotionally charged messaging, highly shareable clips, the strategy felt very similar to the kind of political content that performs well in the U.S.
Whether people agree with the messaging or not, it’s clear the campaign understands modern digital communication and how quickly emotional content spreads online.
José Ignacio García: Local Identity and Grassroots Energy
Adelante Andalucía leaned more into local culture, housing concerns, youth issues, and Andalusian identity.
Compared to some of the larger campaigns, the content felt less polished and more community-driven, which made it stand out in its own way.
One thing you notice quickly living here is how strong regional identity is in Andalucía. People are deeply proud of where they’re from, and that pride showed up throughout the campaign.
Antonio Maíllo: More Policy, Less Personality
Por Andalucía focused more on policy and coalition politics than personality-driven campaigning.
Their messaging revolved around healthcare, sustainability, social protections, and progressive policies rather than viral-style branding.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Voting Day in Málaga
Today, Sunday, May 17th 2026, my husband went to vote at our local polling station in Málaga Ciudad, and every time I see the process here, I notice how different and at the same time very similar it feels from elections in the United States.
In Malaga, Spain (similar to Los Angeles, CA), polling stations are commonly set up inside:
- schools
- public buildings
- community centers
- and sports facilities.
People arrive throughout the day (I hear its always on a Sunday) casually, families, elderly couples, young voters, neighbors greeting each other outside.
Polling stations in Andalucía opened at 9:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM.
How Voting Works in Spain
The process itself is also very different from what many Americans are used to.
Inside the polling station:
- each party has printed ballots available
- voters select the ballot of the party they want
- place it inside an envelope
- verify their identity
- and then place the envelope into the ballot box.
Voting tables are organized by district and surname group, and each table is staffed by ordinary citizens selected for election duty, along with party representatives observing the process.
Once polls close, votes are counted manually at each table before results are transmitted to the central electoral system.
The Frustration I’ve Been Hearing From Voters
One thing I heard repeatedly this election season was frustration from people who feel politically disconnected.
A lot of voters told me:
- they don’t feel represented
- they’re voting blank
- they’re skipping voting altogether
- or they’re choosing what they consider the “least bad option.”
That frustration also comes with a lot of confusion around how voting actually works in Spain.
Common Myths About Voting in Andalucía
“Blank Votes Go to the Largest Party”
This is probably the most repeated myth I’ve heard.
Blank votes do NOT automatically get assigned to the winning party.
What happens is that blank votes are counted as valid votes under Spain’s D’Hondt electoral system, which can indirectly make it harder for smaller parties to gain representation.
So they don’t “go” to the largest party, but they do affect the overall calculations.
“Not Voting Doesn’t Change Anything”
Turnout matters…a lot.
When people abstain from voting, it can strengthen parties with highly motivated voter bases because elections here are influenced heavily by provincial seat distribution and participation levels.
“Blank Votes and Spoiled Ballots Are the Same”
They’re different.
A blank vote is valid.
A spoiled or altered ballot becomes invalid and is excluded from calculations.
Living Between Two Cultures
Experiencing election day in Spain as someone born and raised in the United States constantly gives me new perspectives on culture, politics, and community.
My children are growing up between two worlds, and moments like this become part of understanding both sides of who they are.
Sometimes living abroad isn’t only about travel or beautiful places.
Sometimes it’s standing outside a local school in Málaga watching neighbors vote on a Sunday and realizing you’re witnessing everyday life from a completely different cultural lens.
For official information about the Andalucía 2026 elections, voting procedures, live vote counting, and electoral results, visit the official Junta de Andalucía election portal here:
Official Andalucía Election Information Portal
The site includes:
- live election results
- how voting works
- blank vs null vote explanations
- seat distribution information
- electoral calendars
- voter FAQs
- and official updates from the Junta Electoral de Andalucía.
Xoxo,
La Mami,
Julie
