No valid candidates’ lists having been submitted within the legal deadline, the elections for the renewal of the Committee of Italians Abroad (COMITES) of the consular district of Cape Town, previously scheduled for December 19, 2014, will not take place.
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03.10.2014
Dear voters / Italian citizens,
The elections of the Committees of Italians Abroad (Comites) have been called on 19 September 2014.
Comites are bodies which represent Italian citizens residing abroad in dealing with consular offices.
The members of Comites will be elected on the basis of lists of candidates submitted by Italian citizens who reside in each consular district.
The lists may be submitted to the Consulate by 19 October 2014.
Italian citizens who by 19 December 2014 are 18 years or older, who are registered in AIRE (the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad) and have been residing in the consular district for at least six months and are eligible voters are entitled to vote.
THOSE WISHING TO VOTE NEED TO SEND THE CONSULATE A SIGNED REQUEST, ACCOMPANIED BY A COPY OF IDENTITY DOCUMENT FOR THEIR INCLUSION ON THE VOTERS’ ROLL.
THIS REQUEST IS STRICTLY PERSONAL AND EACH VOTER MUST SEND HIS/HER OWN REQUEST FORM.
• Download the request form to take part in the election – only in Italian – please attach the copy of your passport
The request will be accepted even if not on the prescribed form, provided it contains the following information:
first and last name, date of birth and current address of the applicant, the request to vote for the election of Comites, the applicant’s signature and it is accompanied by a photocopy of an identity document.
The request may be sent to the Consulate by
post: PO BOX 15865 – VLAEBERG – 8018,
Email: consolato.capetown@esteri.it,
Fax: 021 424 0146, or hand delivered.
THE REQUEST MUST REACH THE CONSULATE BY 19 November 2014
The Consulate will, by the 29th of November, mail the ballot papers with a pre-paid return envelope only to the voters who have requested to be included on the Voters’ Roll.
I trust that you, too, will want to contribute to this important exercise in democracy.
Best Regards
The Consul
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19.09.2014
Calling for elections.
As per ministerial authorisation dated 18.09.14, the COM.IT.ES. elections have been called for 19 december 2014.
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12.08.2014
Please be informed that in the Official Gazette no. 179 of 4 August 2014 was published the Decree-Law of 1 August 2014,
n. 109 which, in art. 10, containing urgent provisions for the renewal of the Committees of Italians abroad (Com.It.Es.).
The rule in question provides that, in the forthcoming elections for the renewal of Com.It.Es.,
the right to vote is exercised by correspondence, as provided by Law 286/2003.
The ballot papers will be sent ONLY to the voters who meet the requirements of the law,
and who expressly request to vote at their local Consular Office at least fifty days
before the election date.
We reserve the right to communicate the date of the election, to be held tentatively in the month of December.
Please note that this decree, despite having force of law after its publication, is still subject to a parliamentary conversion
and therefore may, at that time, be amended.
Requests to be included in the Voters Roll to receive ballot papers for the election of Com.It.Es by correspondence may as of
now be submitted personally to the local Consular Office, or sent to same office by mail, fax, electronic mail or certified mail,
attaching a non-certified copy of the identity document of the applicant, which must include the signature of the holder.
• Download the request form to take part in the election – only in Italian – please attach the copy of your passport
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WHAT IS “COMITES”?
COMITES are elected bodies which represent the local Italian community with relation to the Consulate. Together with the
Consulate, Comites work to identify the social, cultural and civic needs of the Italian community.
COMITES committees also collaborate with other Italian government agencies, as wella Italian organizations and Associations
who operate in the consular district, aiming to promote the interests of the Italian community living in the district, and all those
initiatives deemed appropriate in the field of social and cultural life, social care and education, vocational training, leisure and
recreation.
COMITES, in consultation with the consular authorities, may represent instances of the Italian community living in
the consular district to local authorities and institutions.
COMITES are made of 12 members in consular districts with up to 100,000 Italian residents, or 18 members in consular
districts with more than 100,000 Italian residents.
MEMBERS OF COMITES remain in office for five years and do not receive any remuneration for their work.
WHO TO VOTE?
Members of COMITES are elected from lists of candidates signed and submitted by Italian citizens resident in each
consular district.
HOW TO VOTE?
Italian citizens older than 18, registered to vote and who have resided in the Consular district for at least six months
may vote by mail, as long as they have sent their request to vote timeously to their Consulate.
By the twentieth day prior to the date of the vote the Consulate will send to each elector who has requested it an envelope
containing the election material and an information sheet showing the voting rules.
The recipient shall vote according to the instructions provided, and shall send his voting papers back to the Consulate,
using the pre-paid envelope. The envelope should be sent as soon as possible and needs to reach the Consulate by the
voting deadline.
Legislation (available on the website: www.normattiva.it):
Law 23 October 2003, n. 286;
Presidential Decree December 29, 2003, n. 395
D.L. August 1, 2014, n. 109
N.B. The D.L. 109/2014 is subject to parliamentary conversion and therefore may, at that time, be amended.