Almost five million Italians may not vote in next year’s EU elections

The citizens who live far from their municipality of residence are asking to be allowed to vote in the municipality where they live, but the law that could allow them to do so might not be approved in time for next year’s EU elections.

The constitutionally protected right to vote risks not being exercised by some five million people who live far from their official residence, for example, university students or those working in jobs that require them to work far from home.

The European elections will be held between 6 and 9 June 2024, but Italy, Cyprus, and Malta are the only European countries so far that do not allow ‘off-site’ citizens to vote. There are 4.8 million Italian citizens (10% of the electorate) living in municipalities other than their residence, and almost half of these would need between four and 12 hours to get there.

The issue has been discussed in Italy for years, with a bill being reviewed in parliament. The right-wing government, currently led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has a year and a half left to pass the new law that would guarantee the right to vote to all citizens on and off national soil.

The law in question has already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies but must still pass through the Senate. The left-wing opposition has doubts about the timetable, which will likely be so long that it will overtake the electoral appointment in which Italians must choose who should represent them in the European Parliament.

“We have presented our reform proposals to strengthen stability and representation together, starting with a new electoral law and the vote for out-of-towners”, said Democratic Party (PD/S&D) Secretary Elly Schlein.

According to the new law, Italian citizens who live in a different municipality – in Italy or abroad – than their municipality of residence for reasons of study, work, care or assistance as family caregivers will be able to vote. In addition, subsidised rates will be established for – alternatively – travelling to one’s municipality of residence.

However, the law has a loophole at the outset because the measures that might be introduced would only apply to EU elections and referendums, not to general elections unless the government introduces changes.

One difficulty noted by out-of-towners is the cost of travelling, which is often unaffordable and discourages them from going to the polls. The age group most affected by the problem is the 18-35 age group, with university students, in particular, among the first to call for government intervention on the issue.

At the last general election in September 2O22, the turnout reached an all-time low of just under 64%. About 16 million voters did not go to the polls, while in 2018, the turnout stood at 72.9%.

This was partly caused by citizens’ lack of interest in and distrust of the political class, but that also highlights the so-called ‘involuntary abstentionism’, aggravated by the skyrocketing cost of living amid rising energy prices and rents.

(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)