Fans, swimwear and sweat: Spaniards brave summer heat to vote in snap election

The general election could make Spain the latest EU member to swing to the political right

Published: July 23, 2023 20:55 Gulf News Report with inputs from Reuters

1 of 15

Spaniards got up early, voted in swimwear and turned ballot papers into fans to beat sweltering heat on Sunday as they took part in an election that many saw as ill-timed in the middle of summer. Image Credit: AP

2 of 15

By midday, long queues were reported outside polling stations, where staff installed fans, set up portable air conditioning machines and gave out bottles of water to keep voters and polling staff cool. Image Credit: Reuters

3 of 15

Some 40.5% of votes were cast by 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) compared to 37.9% in the last election in November 2019. Another 2.47 million people - about 7% of those eligible to vote in Spain voted before Sunday by post. Image Credit: Bloomberg

4 of 15

Commentators on local media remarked on long queues building earlier than usual. Most voters said their motive was to beat the heat Image Credit: AP

5 of 15

A fan is placed to cool off as people cast their votes during a general snap election at a polling station in Barcelona, Spain. Image Credit: Reuters

6 of 15

Monica Lopez and her husband carry beach chairs as they cast their votes during a general snap election. Image Credit: REUTERS

7 of 15

A couple enter a voting booth for Spain's general election at a polling station in Madrid. Image Credit: AP

8 of 15

A woman gets her identity checked before casting her ballot during Spain's general election. Image Credit: AFP

9 of 15

A voter casts their ballot in Spain's general election in Madrid. Image Credit: AP

10 of 15

People queue to cast their votes during a general snap election at a polling station in Barcelona, Spain. Image Credit: REUTERS

11 of 15

An election worker, center, gestures to a voter on a wheelchair at a polling station for Spain's general election, in Madrid. Image Credit: AP

12 of 15

Nuns cast their ballots before voting at a polling station for Spain's general election. Image Credit: AP

13 of 15

A woman prepares her ballot at a polling station, during the general snap election, in Ronda, Spain. Image Credit: REUTERS

14 of 15

A voter heads to a polling station to vote during the general election in Madrid, Spain. Image Credit: Bloomberg

15 of 15

A polling station official uses a fan against the heat as voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Badalona, outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. Image Credit: AP

Photos News

Fans, swimwear and sweat: Spaniards brave summer heat to vote in snap election

More From Photos

Gallery: Severe floods and storms devastate central and eastern Europe, Asia

Photos: Sheikh Khaled’s visit to India

Photos: 21st edition of Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition

World's largest indoor ski resort opens in Shanghai as China logs hottest month

GULFNEWS SECTIONS

Trending

Fans, swimwear and sweat: Spaniards brave summer heat to vote in snap election

More From Photos

Gallery: Severe floods and storms devastate central and eastern Europe, Asia

Photos: Sheikh Khaled’s visit to India

Photos: 21st edition of Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition

World's largest indoor ski resort opens in Shanghai as China logs hottest month

GULFNEWS SECTIONS