If you are a member of the polling station on January 18th, you have the right to be absent from work on the day of the elections and the following day, without losing any rights or remuneration, and you will also receive a fixed bonus for performing your duties.
The Authority for Working Conditions (ACT) recalled this right in a public communication, highlighting that the dismissal is valid “without prejudice to all rights and benefits, including the right to remuneration”, as long as the exercise of duties is duly proven.
On the side of the National Elections Commission (CNE), the rule is identical: there is the right to dismissal on the day following the election, without loss of any rights, proof being made through a declaration passed by the board.
Who is entitled and how to justify the absence
The exemption applies to those who are part of the table (president, secretary, scrutineers and substitutes), whether they work in the public or private sector, and counts as time served, without penalty on salary.
To justify the absence from the employer, the simplest way is to ask the president of the board where you worked for a statement and submit it at work (or to the human resources department).
If you are worried about the employer’s reaction, the essential thing is to remember that this right is provided for in electoral legislation and was publicly reaffirmed by ACT, precisely to avoid doubts during election week.
How much do you earn from being at a polling station?
The bonus awarded to panel members is 60.43 euros, a value that has been communicated by the CNE and local entities within the framework of the Electoral Agents Exchange.
As a rule, this amount is indicated as exempt from taxation and serves as compensation for the electoral work day, which begins early and ends only after the counting and formal closing of operations.
Experience from previous elections shows that payment may not be immediate, because operationalization usually involves local authorities after transfers and administrative processes, it is advisable to keep proof and monitor information from the municipality, if necessary.
How to sign up to be a panel member
Anyone who wants to join polling stations can register with the Electoral Agents Exchange, through the city council or parish council (or through the platforms indicated by the electoral administration), with the exchange being used when there are not enough citizens indicated under normal terms.
The requirements highlighted by the company are simple: being registered in the area where you will work and knowing how to read and write Portuguese, as the board has formal responsibilities and the production of documentation.
Duties include directing voting and tabulation operations, ensuring order and freedom to vote, confirming identities and registrations in the electoral register and preparing minutes, among other tasks.
What to do if you were nominated (quick checklist)
On election day, panelists must arrive early to prepare materials and organize the space; The operational manuals of the electoral administration explain this need for preparation before the opening of the polling station.
If your concern is “not getting stuck” with practical doubts, take the essentials: identification document, water/light food and, at the end, don’t forget to ask for the declaration to deliver to work and guarantee paid leave the next day.
For many workers, this is the most important part: the law grants exemption, but exemption requires proof, which is why the board statement is the key document to avoid problems with absences and salary deductions.
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