[2] This election aimed to form assemblies in three levels: parochial, provincial, and the Constituent Cortes of 1820.

[4] The Liberal Revolution had as its main political objective the creation of a democratically elected parliament, but there were three approaches to what sort of parliamentary government should be established:[5] While the latter option initially won, the aftermath of the Martinhada (11 November 1820) would lead to the Spanish Constitution of 1812 option being implemented in the 1820 elections.

[6] All literate men had the right to vote except monks, servants, and some other groups.

[6][3] There were a total of six provinces in mainland Portugal: Alentejo, Beira, Estremadura, Minho, Trás-os-Montes, and Algarve.

[1] This election would form the Constituent Cortes of 1820, which would nominate a new government (the Regência which replaced the provisional government Junta Provisional do Governo Supremo do Reino), create the Portuguese Constitution of 1822 and order John VI of Portugal to return from Brazil to swear the 1822 Constitution.