Are you an Italian living abroad? Here are the instructions for voting next March 4, 2018.
President Sergio Mattarella formally dissolved the Italian Parliament, last Thursday. As a consequence, a national election will take place on March 4, 2018.
All Italians, including those who live abroad, will have the right to vote.
According to Law no. 459 dated December 27, 2001, Italian citizens who live abroad, provided they are registered on the electoral rolls, can VOTE BY POST. It is important to know that Italian citizens can elect representatives to the Chamber of Deputies and Senate of the Republic by voting for candidates who put themselves forward for the Overseas Constituency.
Otherwise, it is possible to vote in Italy, in your municipality (Milan, Turin, Rome, Florence, Naples, Palermo etc.), by sending a form (a.k.a. “OPTION”) to the Consulate within the legally required deadline. If you vote in Italy, you will receive the voting notification card from your municipality – at the polling stations in Italy – and you will be voting for candidates in the national constituencies and not for the Overseas Constituency.
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
Don’t forget to read our latest post March 4, 2018, Italian general election. Update on voting instructions for Italians living abroad
According to the official Ministry of Interior website, these are the instructions for voting by absentee ballot, for Italians living abroad.
The voter will receive an envelope containing a ballot, and must follow the instructions given inside. The voter expresses his/her own vote on the ballot by making a mark (an X or /) on the symbol of the chosen list or, in any case, in the box that contains the list.
Moreover, he/she can express two votes of preference in the space assigned to two or more “deputati” (representatives) or “senatori” (senators) and one vote of preference in the space assigned to a single candidate. The vote of preference which has been correctly expressed for a candidate is considered as a vote for his/her list if the voter has not made a mark in another space on the ballot.
Remember that your ballot must be received by your local Consulate by 4 p.m. (local time) on March 1, 2018.
N.B. We will provide further clarification at such a time as the Ministry makes it available.
Here are the instructions for voting provided by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other useful links related to the Italian election that will take place on March 4, 2018:
Voting for Italian citizens resident abroad – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Italy’s President Dissolves Parliament and Officially Opens Election Season – NYT
Why Much Is at Stake in Italy’s March 4 Elections – Bloomberg
Italy to vote on March 4, with hung parliament feared – Reuters
Legge elettorale, come si vota il 4 marzo con il Rosatellum: un’unica scheda, candidati in collegi e listini, soglia al 3% – Il Fatto Quotidiano
Elezioni politiche, al voto il 4 marzo – Italian Government
Elezioni politiche 2018, la data è il 4 marzo. Le tappe fino al voto – SkyTg24
La road map del voto scandita dalla Costituzione: dopo il 4 marzo la palla passa ai partiti – La Repubblica
Elezioni 4 marzo, da che parte starà il Vaticano? – Il Fatto Quotidiano
Mattarella scioglie le Camere. Il Cdm, si voterà il 4 marzo – Ansa
Mattarella scioglie le Camere, elezioni fissate per il 4 marzo – Il Corriere della Sera
I have my papers but my Italian reading skills are not very good anymore and they are different to usual; can you explain how to vote. Is it just one cross in the box under the party symbol or numbering each box? Please help.
Dear Frank,
Thank you for your request.
I will post the instructions as soon as possible.
Thank you,
David.
Dear Frank,
I updated the post with the voting instructions, in English, this morning. Should you need further information, please send an email to assistance@vademecumitalia.com. Thank you.
Received my ballot package. Could you please forward me instruction in English too. Does anything go onto the front of the ballot??
Sorry misspelled Guglielmo
Dear Guglielmo,
We sent you an email yesterday.
We added the voting instructions, in English, to the bottom of this guide.
You will only need to make a mark where indicated by the voting instructions (where the symbols are), in addition to the vote/s of preference, if you wish to express them.
Please let us know if everything is clear or if you need further information.
Thank you.