How to request a postal vote with a digital certificate

If you are a resident of Castilla y León, you have an important date coming up on 15 March: elections to the regional parliament are being held and you must go to your polling station to exercise your right to vote. However, if you will be away from your town on that date or you want to vote early for various reasons, applying to vote by post may be the most convenient option.

This system has been in place for years due to the significant advantages it offers voters, especially the flexibility to vote according to their personal schedule. With the upcoming elections just around the corner, we will explain how to request a postal vote with a digital certificate, the safest and fastest option.

Who can request a postal vote in Castilla y León in 2026?

If you are a citizen of Castilla y León and you are unable to go to your polling station on 15 March, the solution that can save you in this situation is to request a postal vote with a digital certificate. However, only people who are eligible to vote can request a postal vote, namely:

1. Voters registered on the electoral roll of Castilla y León
2. Voters residing abroad who are temporarily in Spain and are entitled to vote in the elections called.

Voters residing in Spain who are temporarily abroad, or voters residing abroad who apply from their country of residence, may not apply for postal voting.

Deadlines for applying to vote by post with a digital certificate for the elections

Please note that the electoral calendar is fixed. If you wish to apply to vote by post with a digital certificate in the Castilla y León elections, you must pay attention to the dates set so that you do not miss the deadline:

• Application to vote by post: Until 5 March 2026
• Depositing your vote at the post office: Until 11 March 2026
• Election day: 15 March 2026

Step by step: Applying for postal voting on the Correos website

In order to exercise your right to vote electronically, you must first have a Digital Certificate for Natural Persons. This file is the key piece of information that proves your identity to the Public Administration. It proves that you are who you say you are, without having to travel anywhere. If you already have one, it will be installed on your computer, or you may even have it stored in the cloud.

How to obtain a digital certificate step by step

If you do not have one, you will need to request one. However, not just any digital certificate will do; many entities pride themselves on issuing digital certificates, but not all of them are accredited to do so. In Spain, there are several valid entities you can turn to, the most common digital certificate being that of the FNMT (National Mint and Stamp Factory). Below, we detail the steps you need to take to request a postal vote with a digital certificate:

1. Software configuration. Before you begin, install the FNMT Configurator on your computer. It is a lightweight programme that ensures your browser is ready to generate security keys correctly.
2. Online application and code. The application process is online and you must fill in your details on the official website. When you have finished, you will receive an application code in your email; this is the key to the next steps, so make sure you don’t lose it.
3. Video identification accreditation. Although you can go to the registration offices in person, video identification is the quickest and easiest way to obtain your certificate. The process includes steps such as scanning a QR code on your mobile phone, providing your valid ID card and paying the fees for using this service: €2.99 + taxes, although the certificate itself is free.

If your video identification is approved and using your Application Code, you can download and install your certificate. Remember that the digital certificate is the vehicle, but what really gives your request legal validity is the electronic signature you generate at the end of the Correos form.

For the Public Administration, Regional Authority Certificates or qualified certificates are also valid.

How to request a postal vote with a digital certificate?

In addition to the digital certificate, you can also use an electronic ID card. In either case, you must specifically request the elections in which you wish to participate. Although the process is the same for elections in any region, we will use the example of Castilla y León, as it will be the next region to hold elections.

Once you have decided that you want to exercise your right to vote electronically, you can submit your application from the date of the announcement until the corresponding deadline, which is 5 March in the case of the Castilla y León elections.

During the process, you must:

1. Fill in the required information.
2. Sign your request electronically.
3. Download the application when you have finished.

What happens after you apply?

Once you have submitted your application to vote by post, if the Electoral Census Office approves it, you will receive the documentation at the address you provided. Please note that although you do not have to go to the polling station in person, you will have to submit the envelope with your vote at a post office during normal opening hours, with a deadline of 11 March for the Castilla y León elections. This is the only way you can exercise your right to vote.

If your application is approved, you will no longer be able to vote at the polling station on election day, regardless of whether you have submitted the documentation to the post office or not. Therefore, it is vital that you understand how to apply for a postal vote with a digital certificate and that you send the envelope by the deadline in order to participate effectively.

Now you know how to apply for a postal vote with a digital certificate.

Benefits of using your digital certificate with solutions such as Viafirma

Acquiring a digital certificate is only the first step in streamlining digital procedures. The really important step is how you manage it so that your procedures (such as postal voting) and your signatures do not depend on a single computer or device.

In this sense, Viafirma’s digital certificate manager takes your digital identity to the next level of efficiency and security.

Why choose Viafirma’s digital solutions? Here are four key reasons:

1. Unlimited multi-platform mobility. We are sure that you have wanted to complete an online procedure on your mobile phone at some point, only to remember that your digital certificate is stored on your computer. With Viafirma, you won’t face this kind of inconvenience. Thanks to the centralisation of certificates in the cloud, you can sign official applications, such as those for the post office, from any device: mobile, tablet or computer, without having to install files on each device.
2. Maximum legal security. We guarantee both the integrity of the signed documents and the identity of the signatory, in strict compliance with the eIDAS Regulation, the relevant legislation on electronic signatures and trust services.
3. Total control and corporate agility. Centralising digital identity with our certificate manager eliminates the risk of loss and drastically reduces human error. What used to involve travel and waiting times can now be done in seconds with Viafirma.

Frequently asked questions about how to request a postal vote with a digital certificate

Which digital certificate is valid for voting? (DNIe, FNMT, etc.)

To apply for postal voting online, the Correos system requires you to prove your identity using a qualified electronic signature. The certificates accepted are those issued to individuals by recognised trusted service providers. As we have already mentioned, the most common are the electronic ID card, the FNMT (National Mint) certificate, Regional Authority Certificates or other qualified certificates.

Is it free to apply for postal voting online?

Yes, the postal voting application process is completely free for voters. This includes both the online application and the sending of the envelope with your vote to the polling station, as it is an official certified delivery.