On the last Sunday of March, the 29th, Italians will go to the polls. In fact, a Constitutional referendum will be held, the fourth in the history of the Italian Republic. Let’s see what the question will be. And what are the voting methods that Italians abroad can use, both those who are resident and those who are, for a period of at least three months, in a country other than Italy.
Constitutional referendum on the cut of parliamentarians
The referendum consultation of March 29th aims to reduce the number of parliamentarians. The question is the following. «Do you approve the text of the constitutional law concerning “Amendments to articles 56, 57 and 59 of the Constitution regarding the reduction of the number of parliamentarians” approved by Parliament and published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic – General series – n. 240 on October 12, 2019?»
We must therefore answer by drawing an x on the “yes” or “no”. All the entitled Italians will have to go to the polls from 7 to 23. In practice, the referendum aims to reduce the number of deputies and senators. Deputies are currently 630 and will become 400. While the number of senators will pass from 315 to 200. In addition, the cut will also affect parliamentarians elected abroad. Deputies from 12 will drop to 8 and senators from 6 to 4. Also including senators for life: they will be only 5. This constitutional reform was requested by 71 senators and was approved by the central office for the referendum of the Court of Cassation on January 23. This kind of consultation has no quorum to be achieved. Therefore the number of voters is not binding.
Italians abroad vote by correspondence
The notice published by the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto explains the two methods of voting for Italians residing or temporarily residing in a foreign country. “Italian citizens residing abroad, registered on the electoral roll, vote through postal voting.” In this case, they must check and regularize “their personal and address situation at their consulate”. Furthermore, Italian citizens who, for reasons of work, study or medical treatment, have been living for a period of at least three months in a foreign country in which they are not recorded at the registry office, can vote by correspondence in the Overseas Constituency, this option is valid for a single electoral consultation, according to the law No. 470 of 27 October 1988. In the same way, family members living with the citizens referred to in the first period can vote.”
The “armed and police forces engaged in international missions and state personnel serving abroad” can vote by correspondace. In this case, the communication must be sent to the Italian municipality where they are o registered on the electoral roll by February 26, 2020.
The second way to vote
The other option for voters registered with AIRE, only provided for a referendum, is to vote in Italy in the municipality where they are registred on the electoral roll. In this case it was necessary to communicate “the choice to the Consulate”. By letter on plain paper or by filling in the form provided by the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or the consular office. So the deadline for submitting this letter was February 8th. Those who made use of this second method of voting are aware that “the Law does not provide for reimbursement for travel expenses. But only tariff concessions within the Italian territory. Only voters residing in countries where there are no conditions for voting by correspondence (Law 459/2001, art. 20, paragraph 1-bis) are entitled to a refund of 75% of the cost of the travel ticket, in economy class.”
The consular office is at the disposal for any further clarification.
