In a statement sent to Lusa agency, the foundation expressed “serious concerns regarding data security practices” in postal voting, which will be used by the overwhelming majority of Portuguese emigrants, and called for them not to be sent in these elections.

“There is abuse in the exposure of voters' personal data, in particular the indiscriminate access of the citizen's card number on the outside of envelopes sent to voters, as well as the possibility that, in the event of the letter being lost, unauthorised people may have access to printing the citizen card of the voter in question”, the note continues.

Fundação Portugália, created in 2023, states that “the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) clearly establishes that personal data must be processed in a way that guarantees an adequate level of security, protecting them against unauthorised access or disclosure”.

“However, the practices observed in the postal voting process raise serious questions about compliance with these fundamental data protection principles”, add the signatories of the statement.

The foundation urges “electoral authorities in Portugal to urgently review their practices”, considering that “it is essential that voters have confidence that public institutions treat their personal information with due care and protection throughout the electoral process”.

The overwhelming majority of Portuguese voters abroad will vote by post in the upcoming legislative elections on March 10th.

According to an official source from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of citizens registered abroad who can vote by post is 1,541,295 voters, residing in 189 countries, while 5,281 voters expressed their intention to vote in person, which can be carried out in 60 consulates.