District Three (Regional Assembly of Murcia constituency)

District Three was one of the five constituencies (Spanish: circunscripciones) represented in the Regional Assembly of Murcia, the regional legislature of the Region of Murcia. The constituency last elected 21 deputies in 2015. It comprised the municipalities of Murcia, Alcantarilla, Beniel, Molina de Segura, Alguazas, Las Torres de Cotillas, Lorquí, Ceutí, Cieza, Abarán, Blanca, Archena, Ricote, Ulea, Villanueva del Río Segura, Ojós, Fortuna, Abanilla and Santomera. The electoral system used the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation, with a minimum threshold of five percent regionally.

District Three
Former Regional Assembly of Murcia Electoral Constituency
Location of the District Three within the Region of Murcia
Province	Murcia
Autonomous community	Region of Murcia
Former constituency
Created	1983
Abolished	2015
Seats	19 (1983–1987) 20 (1987–1991) 21 (1991–2007) 20 (2007–2011) 21 (2011–2015)

Electoral system

The constituency was created as per the Statute of Autonomy for the Region of Murcia of 1982 and was first contested in the 1983 regional election. The Statute provided for sub-provincial divisions of the Principality's territory to be established as multi-member districts in the Regional Assembly of Murcia, with this regulation being maintained under the 1986 regional electoral law. Each constituency was entitled to an initial minimum of one seat, with the remaining 40 being distributed in proportion to their populations. The exception was the 1983 election, when constituencies were allocated one fixed member and one additional member per each 25,000 inhabitants or fraction greater than 12,500.[1][2]

Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in the Region of Murcia and in full enjoyment of their political rights. Amendments to the electoral law in 2011 required for Murcians abroad to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).[3] Seats were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of five percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied regionally. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution.[1][2] The use of the D'Hondt method might result in a higher effective threshold, depending on the district magnitude.[4]

The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election call—fifteen before 1985—whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least two percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election—one-thousandth of the electorate, with a compulsory minimum of 500 signatures, until 1985—disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[2][5][6]

A 2015 legal amendment saw the abolition of the five constituencies and their replacement by a single multi-member district comprising all the municipalities in the autonomous community. The electoral threshold was also lowered from five to three percent.[7]

Deputies

Deputies 1983–2015
Assembly	Election	Distribution
1st	1983	1 10 8
2nd	1987	1 9 2 8
3rd	1991	2 10 9
4th	1995	2 6 13
5th	1999	1 7 13
6th	2003	1 7 13
7th	2007	1 6 13
8th	2011	1 5 15
9th	2015	3 5 3 10

Elections

2015 regional election

Summary of the 24 May 2015 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	123,022	37.12	–22.75	10	–5
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	71,286	21.51	–0.52	5	±0
	We Can (Podemos)	48,455	14.62	New	3	+3
	Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)	47,831	14.43	New	3	+3
	Winning the Region of Murcia: Plural Left (IU–V–RM–CLI–AS)^1	14,113	4.26	–3.22	0	–1
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)	6,898	2.08	–3.20	0	±0
	Citizens of Democratic Centre (CCD)	4,409	1.33	New	0	±0
	Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA)	3,497	1.06	New	0	±0
	Vox (Vox)	3,356	1.01	New	0	±0
	Blank Seats (EB)	993	0.30	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)	763	0.23	New	0	±0
	Zero Cuts (Recortes Cero)	727	0.22	New	0	±0
	Citizens' Democratic Renewal Movement (RED)	602	0.18	New	0	±0
	Centre and Democracy Forum (CyD)	405	0.12	–0.04	0	±0
Blank ballots		5,017	1.51	–0.67
Total		331,374			21	±0
Valid votes		331,374	98.30	–0.03
Invalid votes		5,747	1.70	+0.03
Votes cast / turnout		337,121	64.99	–2.70
Abstentions			35.01	+2.70
Registered voters
Sources[8][9][10]

2011 regional election

Summary of the 22 May 2011 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	200,593	59.87	–1.78	15	+2
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	73,808	22.03	–7.75	5	–1
	United Left–Greens of the Region of Murcia (IU–V–RM)	25,076	7.48	+1.61	1	±0
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)	17,680	5.28	New	0	±0
	Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL)	4,713	1.41	+1.03	0	±0
	The Greens of the Region of Murcia–Ecolo (LV–Ecolo)	2,170	0.65	New	0	±0
	Party for the Regeneration of Democracy in Spain (PRDE)	696	0.21	New	0	±0
	Renewed United Democratic Centre (CDUR)	645	0.19	New	0	±0
	Employment Business Party (PEE)	593	0.18	New	0	±0
	National Democracy (DN)	541	0.16	±0.00	0	±0
	Centre and Democracy Forum (CyD)	522	0.16	New	0	±0
	Communist Unification of Spain (UCE)	361	0.11	New	0	±0
	State Reform of Nostradamus (REN)	339	0.10	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		7,291	2.18	+0.81
Total		335,028			21	+1
Valid votes		335,028	98.33	–1.06
Invalid votes		5,703	1.67	+1.06
Votes cast / turnout		340,731	67.69	–1.20
Abstentions			32.31	+1.20
Registered voters
Sources[8][9][11]

2007 regional election

Summary of the 27 May 2007 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	204,522	61.65	+1.85	13	±0
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	98,794	29.78	–1.89	6	–1
	United Left–The Greens of the Region of Murcia (IU–LV–RM)^1	19,458	5.87	–0.72	1	±0
	Regional Citizens' Coalition (CCR)	2,052	0.62	New	0	±0
	Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL)	1,247	0.38	New	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS)	591	0.18	New	0	±0
	National Democracy (DN)	523	0.16	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		4,561	1.37	–0.25
Total		331,748			20	–1
Valid votes		331,748	99.39	+0.03
Invalid votes		2,022	0.61	–0.03
Votes cast / turnout		333,770	68.89	–2.83
Abstentions			31.11	+2.83
Registered voters
Sources[8][9][12]

2003 regional election

Summary of the 25 May 2003 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	199,485	59.80	+3.50	13	±0
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	105,651	31.67	–1.58	7	±0
	United Left of the Region of Murcia (IURM)	16,030	4.81	–1.62	1	±0
	The Greens (LV)	5,935	1.78	+0.78	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	1,063	0.32	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		5,399	1.62	+0.10
Total		333,563			21	±0
Valid votes		333,563	99.36	±0.00
Invalid votes		2,156	0.64	±0.00
Votes cast / turnout		335,719	71.72	+2.67
Abstentions			28.28	–2.67
Registered voters
Sources[8][9][13]

1999 regional election

Summary of the 13 June 1999 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	174,476	56.30	–0.05	13	±0
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	103,039	33.25	+5.09	7	+1
	United Left of the Region of Murcia (IURM)	19,915	6.43	–6.19	1	–1
	The Greens (LV)	3,101	1.00	New	0	±0
	Spanish Democratic Party (PADE)	2,669	0.86	New	0	±0
	Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS)	1,028	0.33	–0.23	0	±0
	Union of the Peoples of Murcia (UPM)	962	0.31	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		4,707	1.52	+0.48
Total		309,897			21	±0
Valid votes		309,897	99.36	+0.03
Invalid votes		1,982	0.64	–0.03
Votes cast / turnout		311,879	69.05	–9.26
Abstentions			30.95	+9.26
Registered voters
Sources[8][9][14]

1995 regional election

Summary of the 28 May 1995 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	182,354	56.35	+18.62	13	+4
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	91,129	28.16	–14.22	6	–4
	United Left–The Greens of the Region of Murcia (IU–LV–RM)^1	40,845	12.62	+1.14	2	±0
	Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS)	1,815	0.56	–2.86	0	±0
	Regional Murcianist Party (PMR)	1,427	0.44	New	0	±0
	Spanish Confederation of Independents (CEDI)	1,298	0.40	New	0	±0
	New Region (NR)	767	0.24	New	0	±0
	Democratic Bloc (BD)	411	0.13	New	0	±0
	Cantonal Party (PCAN)	210	0.06	–2.77	0	±0
Blank ballots		3,367	1.04	+0.05
Total		323,623			21	±0
Valid votes		323,623	99.33	+0.09
Invalid votes		2,169	0.67	–0.09
Votes cast / turnout		325,792	78.31	+9.27
Abstentions			21.69	–9.27
Registered voters
Sources[8][9][15]

1991 regional election

Summary of the 26 May 1991 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	110,260	42.38	+0.45	10	+1
	People's Party (PP)^1	98,176	37.73	+1.84	9	+1
	United Left (IU)	26,708	10.27	+2.75	2	+1
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	8,894	3.42	–8.84	0	–2
	Regional Electoral Coalition (PCAN–PRM)^2	7,375	2.83	+2.10	0	±0
	The Greens (LV)	3,161	1.21	New	0	±0
	Rainbow (Arcoiris)	1,839	0.71	New	0	±0
	The Greens Ecologist–Humanist List (LVLE–H)^3	1,196	0.46	+0.16	0	±0
Blank ballots		2,575	0.99	+0.06
Total		260,184			21	+1
Valid votes		260,184	99.24	+0.32
Invalid votes		2,000	0.76	–0.32
Votes cast / turnout		262,184	69.04	–5.28
Abstentions			30.96	+5.28
Registered voters
Sources[8][9][16][17]

1987 regional election

Summary of the 10 June 1987 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	104,747	41.93	–8.58	9	–1
	People's Alliance (AP)^1	89,670	35.89	–3.27	8	±0
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	30,616	12.26	+10.59	2	+2
	United Left (IU)^2	18,797	7.52	+0.43	1	±0
	Murcian Regionalist Party (PRM)	1,329	0.53	New	0	±0
	Workers' Party of Spain–Communist Unity (PTE–UC)	1,103	0.44	New	0	±0
	Humanist Platform (PH)	738	0.30	New	0	±0
	Cantonal Party (PCAN)	491	0.20	–0.03	0	±0
Blank ballots		2,321	0.93	+0.34
Total		249,812			20	+1
Valid votes		249,812	98.92	–0.09
Invalid votes		2,731	1.08	+0.09
Votes cast / turnout		252,543	74.32	+4.62
Abstentions		87,266	25.68	–4.62
Registered voters		339,809
Sources[18][19]

1983 regional election

Summary of the 8 May 1983 Regional Assembly of Murcia election results in District Three

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	112,717	50.51	n/a	10	n/a
	People's Coalition (AP–PDP–UL)	87,386	39.16	n/a	8	n/a
	Communist Party of Spain (PCE)	15,811	7.09	n/a	1	n/a
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	3,724	1.67	n/a	0	n/a
	Liberal Democratic Party (PDL)	1,673	0.75	n/a	0	n/a
	Cantonal Party (PCAN)	524	0.23	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		1,306	0.59	n/a
Total		223,141			19	n/a
Valid votes		223,141	99.01	n/a
Invalid votes		2,232	0.99	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		225,373	69.70	n/a
Abstentions		97,957	30.30	n/a
Registered voters		323,330
Sources[8][20][21]

References

1. "Ley 2/1987, de 24 de febrero, Electoral de la Región de Murcia". Organic Law No. 4 of 9 June 1982. Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 February 2017.
2. "Ley 2/1987, de 24 de febrero, Electoral de la Región de Murcia". Law No. 2 of 24 February 1987. Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 February 2017.
3. Reig Pellicer, Naiara (16 December 2015). "Spanish elections: Begging for the right to vote". cafebabel.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
4. Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). "Effective threshold in electoral systems". Trinity College, Dublin. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
5. "Real Decreto-ley 20/1977, de 18 de marzo, sobre Normas Electorales". Royal Decree-Law No. 20 of 18 March 1977. Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2019.
6. "Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General". Organic Law No. 5 of 19 June 1985. Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
7. "Murcia cambia su ley electoral para pasar a ser una única circunscripción". El País (in Spanish). Cartagena. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
8. Sierra Rodríguez, Javier (2015). El Sistema Electoral de la Región de Murcia: Balance y Perspectivas (PDF) (in Spanish). Murcia: Universidad de Murcia. Facultad de Derecho. pp. 319–327. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
9. "Regional Elections. Evolution of Turnout and Votes from the Main Political Parties". econet.carm.es (in Spanish). Regional Statistics Center of Murcia. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
10. "2015 Statistical Yearbook of the Region of Murcia. Volume I" (PDF). econet.carm.es (in Spanish). Regional Statistics Center of Murcia. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
11. "2011 Statistical Yearbook of the Region of Murcia. Volume I" (PDF). econet.carm.es (in Spanish). Regional Statistics Center of Murcia. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
12. "2008 Statistical Yearbook of the Region of Murcia. Volume I" (PDF). econet.carm.es (in Spanish). Regional Statistics Center of Murcia. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
13. "2004 Statistical Yearbook of the Region of Murcia. Volume I" (PDF). econet.carm.es (in Spanish). Regional Statistics Center of Murcia. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
14. "Regional Assembly of Murcia election results, 13 June 1999" (PDF). www.juntaelectoralcentral.es (in Spanish). Electoral Commission of Murcia. 26 July 1999. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
15. "Regional Assembly of Murcia election results, 28 May 1995" (PDF). www.juntaelectoralcentral.es (in Spanish). Electoral Commission of Murcia. 21 November 1995. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
16. "Regional Assembly of Murcia election results, 26 May 1991" (PDF). www.juntaelectoralcentral.es (in Spanish). Electoral Commission of Murcia. 19 October 1991. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
17. "Number 150. Report-declaration of the Regional Assembly of Murcia election of 26 May 1991" (PDF). tcu.es (in Spanish). Court of Auditors. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
18. "Regional Assembly of Murcia election results, 10 June 1987" (PDF). www.juntaelectoralcentral.es (in Spanish). Electoral Commission of Murcia. 27 June 1987. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
19. "Number 75. Audit report on the regularity of electoral accounting derived from the elections held on June 10, 1987" (PDF). tcu.es (in Spanish). Court of Auditors. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
20. "1986 Statistical Yearbook of the Region of Murcia" (PDF). econet.carm.es (in Spanish). Regional Statistics Center of Murcia. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
21. "Regional Assembly of Murcia election results, 8 May 1983" (PDF). www.juntaelectoralcentral.es (in Spanish). Electoral Commission of Murcia. 28 October 1983. Retrieved 30 September 2017.