During the course of 2018 parliamentary elections are to be held in Italy. Italian citizens residing abroad can elect their representatives in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate of the Republic by voting for candidates standing in the overseas constituency.
1. VOTING BY POST
VOTING is a RIGHT guaranteed by the Italian Constitution, and as per Law no. 459 of 27 December 2001 Italian citizens residing abroad may VOTE BY POST provided they are registered in the electoral roll of the overseas district.
Please check that your records and address are updated with the relevant Consulate.
2. VOTING IN ITALY
IT IS POSSIBLE, AS AN ALTERNATIVE, TO OPT TO VOTE IN ITALY AT ONE’S CITY/TOWN HALL
Such a choice (so called OPTION) must be notified in writing to the Consulate within the legal deadline. If you opt to vote in Italy as opposed to voting by post, you will receive from your Municipality a notice to vote at your Italian polling station and you will vote for candidates listed on the National Districts and not those in the Overseas District.
The choice (option) to vote in Italy is only valid for one election.
Those who wish to cast their vote in Italy must notify their Consulate in writing by the 31st DECEMBER preceding the end of the full parliamentary term (March 2018), therefore by 31 December 2017.
In the event of early dissolution of Parliament, the option may be notified by the 10th day following the call for elections: the option MUST in any case REACH the Consular Office NOT LATER THAN 10 DAYS FOLLOWING THE CALL FOR ELECTIONS.
The option declaration must be dated and signed by the voter and indicate the following: name and surname, date and place of birth, place of residence.
The option form is also available from the Consulate, the Patronati (Italian Pension Offices), Associations and COMITES offices, or it can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.esteri.it). Click here to download the form if you wish to go to Italy to vote.
Please attach a copy of your Identification Document.
As per current regulations, the voter shall be responsible to check that the option form has been received in good time by the Consular Office.
The option to vote in Italy may subsequently be REVOKED by written notification posted or handed in at the Consulate in the same way and within the same deadline for the option.
The law does NOT allow any type of reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by those who choose to travel to Italy in order to vote. Tariff concessions are provided only within the Italian territory.
Only voters resident in countries which do not permit voting by postal ballot (Law 459/2001) have the right to a reimbursement equivalent to 75 % of the cost of the travel ticket in economy class.
FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CONSULAR OFFICE
