VOTING BY MAIL FOR ITALIAN CITIZENS RESIDING ABROAD AND OPTION FOR VOTING IN ITALY
On January 23, 2020, the Central Office for the referendum of the Italian Supreme Court of Appeals, has declared that the request to hold a Constitutional Referendum on the “changes to articles 56, 57 e 59 of the Constitution with regards to the number of Parliament representatives” is in agreement with article 138 of the Constitution and has confirmed the legitimacy of the proposed referendum question.
With the January 28, 2020 Decree of the President of the Republic, published on January 29, 2020 in the Official Journal of Laws and Decrees no. 23 (“Gazzetta Ufficiale”), the date for a Confirming Popular Referendum is set for March 29, 2020. Citizens who reside abroad will be able to vote.
VOTING is a RIGHT protected by the Italian Constitution, and in accordance with Law no. 459 of December 27, 2001, Italian citizens who reside abroad and are registered on the electoral rolls of the overseas constituency can VOTE BY MAIL. Please check with your consulate to ensure that your personal data and address are up-to-date.
YOU CAN DECIDE, ALTERNATIVELY, TO VOTE IN ITALY IN YOUR OWN MUNICIPALITY, by giving written notice of your choice (OPTION) to the Consulate within 10 days of the January 28th Decree of the President of the Republic. Voters who choose to vote in Italy for the upcoming referendum will receive the voting notification card from their respective municipalities in order to vote at the polling stations in Italy.
The choice (option) to vote in Italy is only valid for one referendum.
In any case, the option to vote in Italy MUST ARRIVE at the Consular Office NO LATER THAN TEN DAYS AFTER THE DATE IN WHICH THE REFERENDUM HAS BEEN CALLED, THAT IS, BY FEBRIUARY 8, 2020. This communication can be made on a blank paper and – to be valid – must include name, last name, date and place of birth, residence address and signature of the voter, who must also include a copy of his/her valid identification document. CLICK HERE to dowload the option form.
Voters can also use the form available for download on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.esteri.it) or on the websites of the voters’ own Italian consulates.
As provided by law, voters will be responsible for ensuring that notification of the option sent by mail has been received within the allotted time period by the Consulate responsible for their jurisdiction of residence.
The choice to vote in Italy may be subsequently WITHDRAWN by written notification sent or delivered to the Consular Office using the same procedures and within the same timeframe set forth in order to exercise the option.
By law, those voters opting to return to Italy to vote are NOT entitled to any type of reimbursement for travel costs, but they may be eligible for certain fee waivers within the Italian territory. Only voters who reside in countries that do not meet the conditions for voting by mail (Law 459/2001, article 20, paragraph 1-bis) will have the right to reimbursement of 75% of the cost of travel in economy class.
THE CONSULAR OFFICE IS AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR CLARIFICATION.