Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Art.1.2. The national territory is divided into the circumscriptions electoral candidates[...] divided into each constituency based on population
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo unico delle leggi elettorali", Art. 1(2)
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
BD003
Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question: On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):
a . "Equality" of population
Comments: For the election of the Chamber of Deputies, there are 26 constituencies. For the election of the Senate, the constituencies are 20 (one for each region). The seats for each constituency are distributed according to the population statistics (for example: Aosta Valley has one seat for the Chamber, while Puglia has 44).
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo unico delle leggi elettorali", Art.1
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
BD005
Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question: The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):
f . A government department or agency
Comments: The Central Directorate for Electoral Services ("Direzione Centrale dei Servizi Elettorali"), a department of the Ministry of Interior.
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo unico delle leggi elettorali", art. 3
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
e . Elected by electoral college or committee
Comments: The President is elected in joint session of the parliament. Three delegates from every region, elected by the regional councils in a way guaranteeing minority representation, participate in the election as well (the only exception is the Aosta Valley, which is represented by one delegate only). Presidential elections, conducted by secret ballot, require a two-thirds majority of the assembly. After the third ballot a majority of the members is sufficient.
Source: Constitution, Art. 83
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: The Prime Minister ("Presidente del Consiglio") is appointed by the President and confirmed by Parliament with a confidence vote.
Source: Constitution, Art. 92 and 94
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The President is the Head of State and represents the national unity. He is the "guarantor" of the Constitution.
Source: Constitution, Art. 87
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
b . Two chambers
Comments: The Parliament consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. The Senate is elected on a regional basis.
Source: Constitution, Art. 55
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
g . List Proportional Representation
Comments: It is a list proportional representation system with corrections: a "majority premium" and a threshold. The threshold is 10% for coalition and 4% for individual parties. In the coalition, the individual party must obtain at least 2% of the votes. 12 seats are reserved for the "foreign constituencies".
Source: Legislative Act: Law of 21 December 2005, n. 270
Electoral Law: "Testo unico delle leggi elettorali", art. 83
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
Legislative Framework
LF001
Status of Electoral Law
Question: What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Part of Constitution b . Separate legislation
Comments: The Constitution sets out the fundamental principles. Then, Parliamentary laws regulate the practical and procedural issues.
Source: Constitution, Art. 56:
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Electoral Law: "Testo Unico delle Leggi Elettorali"
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
LF003
Electoral Law covers
Question: The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):
a . National elections c . Local elections d . Referendums e . Other
Comments: e) Elections to the European Parliament
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo Unico delle Leggi Elettorali"
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
LF004
Compulsory/voluntary voting
Question: Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):
a . Voting is voluntary
Comments: According to the Constitution, voting is a civic duty.
Source: Constitution, Art. 48
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
LF007
Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)
Question: What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):
c . Specially Appointed/Elected Electoral Tribunal
Comments: Regarding national elections: the National Central Electoral Office ("Ufficio elettorale centrale nazionale"), a special body instituted in the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Central Constituency Offices (“Ufficio centrale circoscrizionale”), instituted in the Court of Appeals (or the Tribunals) of the main towns of the constituencies.
Regarding municipal, regional and European Parliament elections: administrative courts of the relevant constituencies
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo Unico delle Leggi Elettorali", Art. 12 and 13;
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Code of Administrative Procedure, Art. 126, 130, 132
Verified: 2020/07/18
Electoral Management
EM002
Responsibility of national EMB
Question: Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):
a . National level b . Regional level c . Local level
Comments: Elections for the European Parliament and referendums as well.
Source: Electoral Laws (Testo unico delle leggi elettorali)
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
EM004
EMB budget determined by
Question: The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):
d . A national government department
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2012/04/16
EM005
EMB expenditures controlled by
Question: The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):
d . A national government department
Comments: The Ministry of Interior.
Source:
Verified: 2012/04/16
EM006
Term of EMB members
Question: The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:
c . For an unspecified period
Comments: They are civil servants of the Ministry of Interior.
Source:
Verified: 2012/04/16
EM012
Electoral Management model
Question: What is the Electoral Management model?
Answer:
a . Governmental
Comments: The Central Directorate for Electoral Services is a department in the Ministry of Interior.
Source:
Verified: 2012/04/16
EM013
Number of EMB members
Question: The EMB is composed of:
Answer:
f . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/07/18
EM014
Membership based on
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected on the basis of their:
Answer:
e . No Information Available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/07/18
EM015
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected by:
Answer(s):
k . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/07/18
Voter Education
VE001
Information campaigns performed by
Question: Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):
i . Media
Comments: Since the announcement of the elections, private and public television channels must air the "Institutional Communications" of the Ministry of Interior. These communications inform the voters on the voting operations; they also explain the rules and schedules of the voting stations.
Source: Electoral Law: Law of 22 February 2000, n. 28, Art. 9.2
https://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/00028l.htm
Verified: 2020/07/18
VE002
Frequency of voter education programs
Question: At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:
b . Election time only
Comments: Voter education programs start from the day that the elections are announced.
Source: Electoral Law: Law of 22 February 2000, n. 28, Art. 4.1
https://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/00028l.htm
Verified: 2020/07/18
VE003
National civic education
Question: Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):
a . No m . No information available
Comments:
Source: Electoral Law: Law of 22 February 2000, n. 28
https://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/00028l.htm
Verified: 2020/07/18
Voter Registration
VR001
Voting age
Question: What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
g . Other (specify)
Comments: c) For the Chamber of Deputies, voters must be 18 years old by the day of the elections AND
g) For the Senate, voters must be 25 years old.
Source: Constitution, Art. 48 and 58 (1)
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Law No. 39 of 8 March 1975, Art. 14
https://www.normattiva.it/atto/caricaDettaglioAtto?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=1975-03-10&atto.codiceRedazionale=075U0039&queryString=%3FmeseProvvedimento%3D03%26formType%3Dricerca_semplice%26numeroArticolo%3D%26numeroProvvedimento%3D39%26testo%3D%26annoProvvedimento%3D1975%26giornoProvvedimento%3D8¤tPage=1
Verified: 2020/07/18
VR002
Other voting requirements
Question: Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Citizenship e . Other
Comments: e) Prison inmates, and persons found guilty of certain crimes (Mafia association, for example) cannot vote.
Source: Constitution, Art. 48
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
VR004
Authority responsible for voter registration
Question: Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:
c . Local Government Authority
Comments: The Electoral Office in every municipality prepare the electoral lists. The Electoral Office is composed of Municipal Electoral Commissions ("Commissione Elettorale Comunale") located in every municipality and of Territorial Electoral Commission ("Commissione Elettorale Circondariale") with offices in every provincial capital.
Source: Presidential Decree of 20 March 1967, n. 223, Art. 4-bis, 5, 6, 12
Verified: 2020/07/18
VR008
Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Question: Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: All citizens are automatically registered as voters.
Source: Presidential Decree of 20 March 1967, n. 223, Art. 1
Verified: 2020/07/18
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Signature requirement (specify requirement)
Comments: Parties must register and deposit a minimum of 1500 signatures and a maximum of 4500 (the number of signatures required depends on the number of voters in the constituency, "circoscrizioni").
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo Unico delle Leggi Elettorali", Art. 14-20
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship j . Other
Comments: To present oneself to be a candidate for the parliamentary elections one must:
1) be 25 years old by the day of the elections,
2) have all the qualifications to exercise his/her voting rights (most importantly: citizenship and no legal conviction that prohibits to hold public office),
3) not hold some specific public positions already (military officials and magistrates for example).
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo Unico delle Leggi Elettorali", Art. 7-10
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1) d . In legislative elections (Chamber 2)
Comments: Independent candidates must present themselves with their own Party or List. The Parties and the Lists must simply register and submit the signatures.
Source: Eletoral Law: "Testo Unico delle Leggi Elettorali", art. 14
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Electoral Law of 20 December 1993, n. 533 ("Testo unico delle leggi recanti norme per l'elezione del Senato della Repubblica"), Art. 8
Verified: 2020/07/18
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: Political Parties receive direct funding on an annual base. On this amount of money, they do not pay taxes. Parties also receive indirect funding during the electoral campaign: city councils and provincial councils must let them use public infrastructure and buildings for their campaigns.
Source: Law of 3 June 1999, n. 157, Art. 1 and 5
Verified: 2020/07/18
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
e . Other
Comments: The total amount of public funding to electoral campaign is calculated in this manner: 1.00€ x [Number of Voters Registered in the Election]. This total amount is later divided according to the results of the elections. The parties receive the same amount annually for 5 years (whether the legislature lasts 5 years or not).
All the parties that gained more than 1% of the votes are entitled to receive public funding.
Source: Law of 26 July 2002, n. 156, Art. 2
Verified: 2020/07/18
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Parties are entitled to private funding related to the electoral campaign and not related to it. During the electoral campaign, a special "Tax Regime" on private funding to parties allows them not to pay any tax on these funds.
Source: Law of 10 December 1993, n.515, as amended by the Law of 27 January 2006, n. 22;
Law of 2 May 1974, n. 195, Art. 7
Verified: 2020/07/18
Vote Counting
VC004
Votes are sorted/counted at
Question: Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:
a . The polling stations
Comments:
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo unico delle leggi elettorali", Art. 67
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
VC011
When are ballots recounted?
Question: Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):
b . Always recounted
Comments: The ballots are handed to the Central Constituency Office ("Ufficio centrale circoscrizionale"), where the judiciary will re-examine and re-count them.
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo unico delle leggi elettorali", Art. 76
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
Media and Elections
ME037
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
Question: What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):
a . Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Comments:
Source: Law of 22 February 2000, n. 28, Art. 1;
Legislative decree of 31 July 2005, n. 177 ("Testo unico della radiotelevisione"), Art. 7(2)c
Verified: 2020/07/18
ME059
Television debates
Question: Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):
b . Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:
Source: Law of 22 February 2000, n. 28, Art. 4;
Legislative decree of 31 July 2005, n. 177 ("Testo unico della radiotelevisione"), Art. 7
Verified: 2020/07/18
ME062
Blackout period for release of opinion poll results.
Question: What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:
f . 10 or more days
Comments: 15 days
Source: Law of 22 February 2000, n. 28, Art. 8
Verified: 2020/07/18
ME080
Question: Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:
b . No
Comments: The law does not specify any limit on paid advertising, but refers to the provisions on electoral expenditures of the Electoral Law.
Source: Law of 22 February 2000, n. 28, Art. 11
Verified: 2020/07/18
Direct Democracy
DD002
Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: In the Constitution.
Source: Constitution, Art. 71, 75, 87, 123, 132 and 138
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD003
Mandatory referendums (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution, Art. 75
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD004
Optional referendums (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The referendum request must be signed by 500,000 voters or presented by at least five regional councils. In a referendum, citizens are asked to vote to amend or repeal a law or other legal binding acts. No referendum is allowed for tax or budget laws, amnesties, pardons, or ratification of international treaties. The referendum succeeds if a majority of those eligible to vote have participated and if the proposal has received a majority of the valid votes.
Another article of the Constitution regulates referendums for laws amending the Constitution and other constitutional acts. Such laws are submitted to popular referendum when, within three months of their publication, a request is made by one fifth of the members of either chamber, by 500.000 voters, or by five regional councils. No referendum may be carried out if the law has been approved by each chamber with a two thirds majority in the second round.
Source: Constitution, Art. 75 and 138
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD005
Citizens' Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: When requested by 500,000 voters or by five regional councils, a popular referendum decides on total or partial repeal of a law or other legal binding acts.
Source: Constitution, Art. 75
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD006
Agenda Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The people may introduce public initiatives consisting of a bill drafted in articles and signed by at least 50,000 voters.
Source: Constitution, Art. 71
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD007
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution, Art. 75
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD129
Question: Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:
a . Always binding
Comments: There is one specific example of consultative referendum in Italy. In 1989, an ad hoc Constitutional Law ("Legge Costituzionale 3 aprile 1989, n.2") amended the constitution for one specific case: to confer constitutional-drafting powers to the European Parliament.
Source: Constitution, Art. 71, 75, 123, 132 and 138
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD130
Question: Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:
c . Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source: Constitution, Art. 71, 75, 123, 132 and 138
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
DD131
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The boundaries of regions and provinces can be modified with a referendum requested by the population involved. Each region has its own statute, and according to the Constitution it must contain direct democracy mechanisms for sub-national matters.
Source: Constitution, Art. 123 and 138
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified: 2020/07/18
Voting Operations
VO003
Electors vote at
Question: Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):
d . At specially designated polling stations f . By mail
Comments:
Source: Presidential Decree of 20 March 1967, n. 223, Art. 35 and 36;
Electoral Law: "D.L. 3 January 2006, n. 1, Art. 1
Verified: 2020/07/18
VO004
Voting outside the country is permitted for
Question: Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):
b . Citizens residing outside the country
Comments:
Source: Constitution, Αrt. 56 and 57
Electoral Law of 27 December 2001, n.459, Art. 5
Verified: 2020/07/18
VO005
Locations for voting outside of the country
Question: If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):
e . By mail
Comments:
Source: Electoral Law of 27 December 2001, n.459, Art. 1
Verified: 2020/07/18
VO011
Voting method
Question: How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):
a . Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source: Electoral Law: "Testo unico delle leggi elettorali", Art.58
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1957-03-30;361!vig=
Verified: 2020/07/18
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