More Than 7,500 Members Have voted in Historic Benfica Election
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Lisbon, Portugal - Benfica football club is experiencing a surge in democratic participation as members cast their ballots in saturday’s presidential election. Polling stations opened at 8:30 am local time, and within the first two hours, a remarkable 7,572 members had already exercised their right to vote, signaling a perhaps record-breaking day for the storied club.
The election, wich will determine the leadership for the four-year period of 2025-2029, is drawing significant attention from Benfica supporters worldwide. José Pereira da Costa, President of the Board of the General Assembly, expressed optimism about the day’s proceedings, stating, “It allows us to foresee a day of great voting and a day of party for Benfica citizenship.”
Eligible Voters and Weighted Ballots
While Benfica boasts a membership base exceeding 400,000, only 160,182 members are eligible to participate in the election. Eligibility requires more than one year of continuous membership and up-to-date payment of membership dues, with regularization required within 48 hours of the election date.
Benfica’s voting system uniquely weights ballots based on member seniority. According to the electoral register, 46,421 members hold three votes, 30,013 have ten votes, 56,703 possess twenty votes, and 27,045 have the maximum of fifty votes. This system recognizes and rewards long-standing commitment to the club.
Four Ballots, Six Presidential Candidates
Members are casting four separate ballots, covering key positions within the club’s structure. These include votes for the Board of Directors, the Board of the General Assembly, the Supervisory board, and the Remuneration Committee.
The race for the presidency features a diverse field of candidates: Martim Mayer (List B),João Diogo Manteigas (List C),Cristóvão Carvalho (List D),former president Luís Filipe Vieira (list E),João Noronha Lopes (List F),and Rui Costa (List G). Lawyer João Ferreira Leite is running unopposed for the General Assembly, leading List A.
Election officials anticipate the final vote count will be available in the early hours of Sunday morning. observers predict that the 2021 election may surpass the previous record of 40,085 voters, solidifying this election as a pivotal moment in Benfica’s history.
