Heavy rains across much of the Iberian peninsula are impacting voter turnout in today’s general election. At 1530 hours, turnout is approximately 3% lower than the 2008 elections at the same time.

Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party is predicted to win by a significant margin over Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba’s incumbent Socialist Party. A lower voter turnout may damage the PP more than the PSOE as moderate and unaligned voters – likely to vote in proportiobately higher numbers for the PP – stay home due to inclement weather.

Full coverage on the Spamish elections later today.