These elections aim to restore 302 parishes that were merged or abolished in 2013, re-establishing their previous administrative status, and will also eliminate 135 parish unions, resulting in a total of 3,258 parishes in Portugal.

Corvo remains the only municipality without a parish council, as its functions are managed directly by the municipal government.

Voters will receive three separate ballots—one for the municipal president, one for the municipal assembly, and one for the parish council—reflecting the structure of local governance.

In over 300 parishes, only one candidate list is running, mostly from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which means the winners are essentially predetermined.

The national election commission reports that the elections are proceeding normally, with no significant issues at polling stations as of 09:00.

A total of 1,584 party, coalition, and citizen group lists are contesting for municipal councils, 1,519 for municipal assemblies, and 9,764 for parish assemblies, with over 800 groups participating overall.

Due to their small voter populations of up to 150, 37 parishes will later elect their executive councils through citizen plenary votes.

Voters across Portugal are participating in local elections to choose representatives for 308 municipal chambers, 308 municipal assemblies, and 3,221 parish assemblies, with each category decided through separate ballots.

Over 9.3 million voters, including Portuguese nationals and foreign citizens from the EU and outside, are eligible to vote today, with polling stations opening at 8:00 AM and closing at 7:00 PM on the mainland and Madeira, and an hour later in the Azores.