Benfica is set to hold a significant club election with over 160,000 eligible members casting ballots under newly revised statutes, marking a major democratic exercise for the Portuguese football giant.
The club’s General Assembly Board announced Friday that 160,182 members are cleared to vote in the elections scheduled for Saturday. These are the first elections for the club’s social bodies since a global revision of its statutes, which introduced changes to the overall voting process.
Eligible members are categorized by voting weight, reflecting their tenure or status within the club. Of the total, 46,421 members will cast 3 votes each.
Another 30,013 members are entitled to 10 votes. A larger group of 56,703 members holds 20 votes each.
Finally, 27,045 members possess 50 votes apiece, according to the board’s statement.
Voting will take place across 108 locations, from 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM local time (Western European Time). The General Assembly Board emphasized the day represents “the maximum expression of Benfiquista Democracy.”
To participate, members must present their club membership card and a valid identification document from their country of nationality. Each voter will receive four separate ballots, corresponding to elections for the Directorate, General Assembly Board, Fiscal Council, and Remuneration Committee.
Voters must mark their chosen list with a single ‘X’ in the designated square. Any additional marks or signatures will invalidate the ballot.
Members can choose any of the 108 polling stations, but the system is designed to prevent multiple votes from a single member. Instructions for circulation within polling sections and adherence to public priority rules in queues must be followed.
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