¿Quién puede votar? El caso de los 'nietos' españoles
Oct 24, 2026·2 min read·Graded Spanish · word-by-word audio
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El Tribunal Supremo de España ha dado un plazo de cinco días a dos ministros del Gobierno. Les pide la lista de 163.020 ciudadanos que pueden verse afectados por la suspensión del derecho al voto. Estos ciudadanos obtuvieron la nacionalidad española gracias a la llamada 'ley de nietos'. Si los ministros no entregan la lista antes del 28 de octubre, podrían enfrentar multas o incluso responsabilidad penal. La 'ley de nietos' permite que los descendientes de españoles obtengan la nacionalidad. Sin embargo, no todos pueden votar en las elecciones del 29 de noviembre.
Según los datos del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, hasta el 21 de octubre se han revisado 31.390 expedientes. De todos ellos, solo se han emitido 91 certificados. Esto significa que solo el 0,3% de los 'nietos' ha acreditado que cumple los requisitos para votar. El Gobierno dice que está trabajando con prisa, pero el Tribunal Supremo considera que la situación es 'incomprensible'.
El Supremo también ha ordenado a la Oficina del Censo Electoral que advierta a todos los inscritos en el CERA. La advertencia dice que estar en el censo no garantiza el derecho al voto. Solo podrán votar aquellas personas que tengan la certificación de los registros consulares. Esta certificación debe probar que sus padres o abuelos fueron españoles de origen y que sufrieron el exilio.
Los magistrados explican que la lista es fundamental para organizar las elecciones de forma transparente y objetiva. El Gobierno asegura que maneja una 'estadística', pero no ha entregado los datos completos. Esta situación muestra la tensión entre el Gobierno y el Tribunal Supremo sobre quién puede votar y cómo se controla el censo electoral.
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Watch out, English speaker
Spanish uses the subjunctive after verbs of command or permission (e.g., ordenar que, permitir que), but English uses the infinitive or a that-clause with a modal. For example, 'El Supremo ha ordenado que la Oficina advierta' means 'The Supreme Court has ordered the Office to warn'—not 'orders that the Office warns.' English speakers often mistakenly use the indicative in Spanish because English does not change verb form in these clauses.
Spanish conditional sentences with 'si + present tense' often take a future or modal in the main clause (e.g., 'Si no entregan la lista, podrían enfrentar multas'), while English uses 'if + present, will/could.' The trap is that English allows 'will' in the if-clause in some contexts (e.g., 'if you will submit'), but Spanish never uses future tense after 'si' in these real conditions. Also, 'podrían' translates as 'could' but is conditional, not past—English speakers may misread it as past ability.
Key vocabulary
plazom.
deadline, period
“El Tribunal Supremo ha dado un plazo de cinco días.”— The Supreme Court has given a five-day deadline.
Pattern dar un plazo de to give a deadline of
Compare término deadline
Plural: plazos
💡 From Latin placitum, originally meaning "agreement," later extended to mean deadline.
suspensiónf.
suspension
“La suspensión del derecho al voto afecta a 163.020 ciudadanos.”— The suspension of the right to vote affects 163,020 citizens.
Pattern suspensión del derecho al voto suspension of voting rights
Compare interrupción interruption
Plural: suspensiones
💡 The noun form of the verb suspender; note the spelling similarity to English suspension.
requisitom.
requirement
“Deben cumplir varios requisitos para votar.”— They must meet several requirements to vote.
Pattern cumplir los requisitos to meet the requirements
Compare condición condition
Plural: requisitos
💡 From Latin requisitus, meaning "required"; note it is cognate with English requisite.
certificadom.
certificate
“Solo se han emitido 91 certificados.”— Only 91 certificates have been issued.
Pattern emitir un certificado to issue a certificate
Compare documento document
Plural: certificados
💡 From certificar (to certify); the root cert- means "certain."
acreditarv.
to prove, certify
“Solo el 0,3% ha acreditado que cumple los requisitos.”— Only 0.3% have proven that they meet the requirements.
Pattern acreditar que to prove that...
Compare probar to prove
Conjugation: acredito, acreditas, acredita...
💡 From crédito (credit), originally meaning "to give trust," extended to mean to prove.
exiliom.
exile
“Sus abuelos sufrieron el exilio por razones políticas.”— Their grandparents suffered exile for political reasons.
Pattern sufrir el exilio to suffer exile
Compare destierro banishment
Plural: exilios
💡 From Latin exilium, ex- (out) + solum (land), meaning "to leave one's homeland."
advertenciaf.
warning
“La advertencia dice que estar en el censo no garantiza el voto.”— The warning says that being on the census does not guarantee the vote.
Pattern hacer una advertencia to issue a warning
Compare aviso notice
Plural: advertencias
💡 From advertir (to warn); note it is not cognate with English advertisement.
censom.
census
“La lista es fundamental para el censo electoral.”— The list is essential for the electoral census.
Pattern censo electoral electoral register
Compare registro register
Plural: censos
💡 From Latin census; in ancient Rome a population and property register was taken every five years.
magistradom.
judge, magistrate
“Los magistrados explican que la lista es fundamental.”— The judges explain that the list is essential.
Pattern los magistrados del Supremo the Supreme Court justices
Compare juez judge
Plural: magistrados
💡 From Latin magistratus (official); cognate with English magistrate.
transparenteadj.
transparent
“Organizar las elecciones de forma transparente es importante.”— Organizing elections transparently is important.
Pattern de forma transparente transparently
Compare claro clear
Singular: transparente; plural: transparentes
💡 trans- (through) + parere (to appear), meaning "light can pass through."
Grammar spotlight
Present subjunctive (in subordinate clauses after commands, permission, etc.)
B1
When the main verb expresses a command, permission, or request (e.g., ordenar que, permitir que), the verb in the subordinate clause must be in the subjunctive. For example: ordenar que advierta (order that he/she warn), permitir que obtengan (allow that they obtain).
“El Supremo ha ordenado que la Oficina advierta a todos los inscritos.”— The Supreme Court has ordered the Office to warn all registered individuals.
⚠️ Do not use the indicative advierte, because the main clause is a command.
Conditional sentences (si + present indicative, main clause in future or with modal verbs)
A2
To express a possible condition, use the structure 'Si + present indicative, main clause in future or with a modal verb like poder'. For example: Si no entregan la lista, podrían enfrentar multas (If they don't submit the list, they could face fines).
“Si los ministros no entregan la lista antes del 28 de octubre, podrían enfrentar multas.”— If the ministers do not submit the list before October 28, they could face fines.
⚠️ Do not use the present tense in the main clause (e.g., enfrentan); use the future or conditional instead.
Sentence patterns to steal
Solo el 0,3% de los 'nietos' ha acreditado que cumple los requisitos para votar.
Only 0.3% of the 'grandchildren' have proven that they meet the requirements to vote.
Solo + percentage + ha acreditado que + clauseThe percentage and the clause can be replaced, e.g., Solo el 10% ha acreditado que vive en España.
La advertencia dice que estar en el censo no garantiza el derecho al voto.
The warning says that being on the census does not guarantee the right to vote.
X dice que + clause (with negative meaning)X can be replaced by el documento, el texto, etc.; the clause can be replaced with other content that denies a guarantee.
El Gobierno asegura que maneja una 'estadística', pero no ha entregado los datos completos.
The Government claims to have a 'statistic', but it has not submitted the complete data.
X asegura que + clause, pero no ha + past participleX can be replaced by other subjects; the clause and past participle can be replaced, e.g., dice que tiene los datos, pero no ha presentado la lista.
What is Spain's 'Grandchildren's Law'?
The 'Grandchildren's Law' (Ley de Nietos), officially known as the Democratic Memory Law, came into effect in 2022. It allows descendants of Spaniards who went into exile for political, ideological, or sexual orientation reasons during the Franco dictatorship to apply for Spanish nationality. Applicants must prove their grandparents' or parents' Spanish origin and exile experience. The law aims to redress historical injustices, but the application process is complex, and voting rights require additional certification.
Source: Spain's Democratic Memory Law No. 20/2022, Wikipedia