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Temi dell'attività parlamentare

The electoral system of the national Parliament
informazioni aggiornate a martedì, 27 febbraio 2018

The electoral system of the national Parliament is regulated by the Consolidated Law on the election to the Chamber of Deputies (Presidential Decree no. 361/1957) and by the Consolidated Law on the election to the Senate (Legislative Decree no. 533/1993).

The present Parliament enacted a reform of the system through Law no. 165/2017, introducing a mixed electoral system that includes both single-member districts - to be allocated by means of a majority system - and multi-member districts - allocated through a proportional system. The provisions regulating the election of 12 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 6 Senators in the Overseas Constituency remain unchanged, according to Law no. 459/2001.

The main features of the new electoral system are described below.

The distribution of the national territory

As regards the Chamber of Deputies, the national territory is divided into 28 constituencies. For some constituencies, the territory coincides with the entire Region, whereas in other cases the regional territory is divided into several constituencies (2 in Piedmont, 4 in Lombardy, 2 in Veneto, 2 in Lazio, 2 in Campania, 2 in Sicily).

Each constituency is divided into single-member districts, and in one or more multi-member districts.

The 232 single-member districts of the national territory are distributed in each constituency on the basis of the population. In each district, the candidate obtaining the highest number of votes is elected.

The allocation of the remaining seats is made through a proportional method: each constituency is divided into multi-member districts, made up of the territorial aggregation of neighbouring single-member districts, each one being generally allocated a number of seats ranging between three and eight.

As regards the Senate, the national territory is divided into 20 constituencies corresponding to the territory of each Region. Every regional constituency is divided into single-member districts and in one or more multi-member districts. The national territory is divided into 116 single-member districts.

Multi-member districts are made up of the territorial aggregation of neighbouring single-member districts, each one being generally allocated a number of seats ranging between two and eight.

The definition of single-member districts – as well as multi-member districts – depends on a legislative delegation to be enforced 30 days before the coming into force of the Law, upon parliamentary opinion, on the basis of the criteria and the guiding principles provided for by the law.

Submission of electoral rolls

Every political party or group intending to stand for elections – both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate – shall submit to the Ministry of the Interior and within the deadlines set:

  • One's party symbol and name;
  • One's electoral programme, in which the name and surname of the political party leader are stated;
  • One's statutes or, failing which, a statement containing the minimum transparency requirements provided for by the law.

The information above shall be published in a special section of the website of the Ministry of the Interior, called «Elezioni trasparenti» (Transparent Elections).

Both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate, organised political parties or groups may stand for elections as a single list or in a coalition. The coalition shall be the same at a national level, and the parties joining forces in a coalition shall present common candidates in single-member districts, exception made for the lists representing recognised linguistic minorities, which may present their candidates separately.

Both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate, in every multi-member district, each roll is made up of a list of candidates, presented according to a numerical order. The number of candidates in the list shall not be lower than the half of the seats allocated to the multi-member district, and shall not exceed the threshold of seats allocated to the multi-member district; in any case, the number of candidates shall neither be lower than two nor higher than four.

Each list shall present its candidates in at least two thirds of the multi-member districts of the entire constituency, under penalty of inadmissibility.

Multicandidacies and gender representation

Both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate, each candidate shall not be included in the lists bearing the same party symbol in more than 5 multi-member districts, under penalty of nullity or invalidity of the election. Standing as candidate in more than one single-member district shall be considered as null and void. A candidate in a single-member district may also stand as candidate in multi-member districts, without prejudice to the threshold of 5.

A member of the Chamber of Deputies elected in several multi-member districts is declared elected in the district in which his/her list obtained the lowest percentage of valid votes out of total valid votes in the district. A member of the Chamber of Deputies elected in a single-member district and in one or more multi-member districts shall be declared as elected in the single-member district.

Special provisions apply to ensure gender representation.

In the first place, under penalty of ineligibility, candidates shall be listed in the rolls of multi-member districts, for both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, according to an alternating gender order.

At the same time, the provisions for the election to the Chamber of Deputies state that out of the total number of candidacies submitted by each list or coalition list in single-member districts at a national level, none of the two genders shall be represented in a percentage exceeding 60 per cent. Furthermore, out of the total lists in multi-member districts presented by each list at a national level, none of the two genders shall be represented as leading candidate in a percentage exceeding 60 per cent. The National Central Office ensures compliance with such provisions.

As regards the Senate, the same provisions are enforced at a regional level, and the Regional Elections Office shall ensure compliance with such provisions.

How to cast votes

Each voter may cast one vote in a single ballot paper, bearing the name of the candidate in the single-member district and the electoral symbol of each list; in case of coalition lists, ballot papers shall include the electoral symbols of such lists, besides the names of the candidates – from two to four – in the multi-member district. Split voting (voto disgiunto) is not allowed.

Each vote is cast by marking the rectangle containing the electoral symbol of the list and the name of the candidate in the multi-member district. The vote is validly cast to the list and to the candidate in the single-member district. In case the mark is put on the name of the candidate to the single-member district only, the vote shall however be valid in favour of the list and for the election of the candidate in the single-member district; in case of several lists within a coalition, the votes will be distributed among the coalition lists proportionally to the votes obtained by each of them in the single-member district.

The procedures on how to cast votes are also described in the outer part of the ballot paper.

Election thresholds and allocation of seats

In single-member districts seats are allocated to the candidate receiving the highest number of votes validly cast; in case of a tie, the youngest candidate is elected.

As regards the seats to be allocated to the lists and coalitions of lists in multi-member districts, the allocation is performed at a national level for the Chamber of Deputies, through a proportional method, among the coalitions of lists and the lists exceeding the election thresholds.

The threshold to access the allocation of seats is 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level for single lists, and 10% of the votes validly cast at a national level for coalitions, provided that at least one of the lists of the coalition obtained 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level (the threshold for inter-coalition lists is 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level, also in case the coalition does not reach the 10% threshold). As far as coalitions are concerned, the votes obtained by the lists not exceeding the threshold of 1% will not be taken into account.

As regards the Senate, the seats to the lists are allocated at a regional level through the proportional method.

The threshold to allocate the seats is set – as it happens with the Chamber of Deputies – at 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level for individual lists, and 10% for coalitions, provided that at least one of the lists in the coalition obtains 3% of the votes validly cast nationally or 20% in a Region (the threshold for inter-coalition lists is in any case 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level or 20% of the valid votes in at least one Region, even in case the coalition does not reach the threshold of 10%). As far as coalitions are concerned, the votes obtained by the lists not exceeding the threshold of 1% will not be taken into account.

The allocation of regional seats to the Senate also involves the lists – either individual or in coalition – that obtained at least 20% of votes validly cast in at least one Region.

Special provisions protect the lists representing recognised linguistic minorities standing for elections in a Special Autonomous Region whose statutes or relevant laws provide for particular protection of such minorities.

In the particular case of Valle d'Aosta, where one seat to the Chamber of Deputies and one seat to the Senate are allocated, special provisions are in force for the election in both chambers of Parliament: a single-member district is established for the election to the Chamber of Deputies and to the Senate, where the candidate obtaining – through the majority method – the highest number of votes validly cast is elected.

Proclamation of candidates elected, vacancy of seats, and transitional and final provisions

After the proclamation of candidates elected in single-member districts through the majority method, the number of seats to be allocated to coalitions and lists (either individual or in coalition) is determined. At the end of such procedures, the candidates are proclaimed elected in each multi-member district, within the limits of the seats to which each list is entitled, and according to the order presented in the list.

A description is also provided on the procedures through which candidates are proclaimed elected – both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate – in case of exhaustion of the list presented in the multi-member district.

In case of vacancy of the seats allocated in single-member districts, by-elections shall be held.

The law also includes some transitional and final provisions on the exemption from the collection of signatures in the first elections following the date of coming into force of the law; on the time frame set to apply the option concerning the vote of Italian citizens temporarily living abroad; on the requirements to stand as candidates in the Overseas Constituency; on the subjects eligible to certify the collection of signatures for the submission of electoral lists.

The electoral system of the national Parliament is regulated by the Consolidated Law on the election to the Chamber of Deputies (Presidential Decree no. 361/1957) and by the Consolidated Law on the election to the Senate (Legislative Decree no. 533/1993).

The present Parliament enacted a reform of the system through Law no. 165/2017, introducing a mixed electoral system that includes both single-member districts - to be allocated by means of a majority system - and multi-member districts - allocated through a proportional system. The provisions regulating the election of 12 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 6 Senators in the Overseas Constituency remain unchanged, according to Law no. 459/2001.

The main features of the new electoral system are described below.

The distribution of the national territory

As regards the Chamber of Deputies, the national territory is divided into 28 constituencies. For some constituencies, the territory coincides with the entire Region, whereas in other cases the regional territory is divided into several constituencies (2 in Piedmont, 4 in Lombardy, 2 in Veneto, 2 in Lazio, 2 in Campania, 2 in Sicily).

Each constituency is divided into single-member districts, and in one or more multi-member districts.

The 232 single-member districts of the national territory are distributed in each constituency on the basis of the population. In each district, the candidate obtaining the highest number of votes is elected.

The allocation of the remaining seats is made through a proportional method: each constituency is divided into multi-member districts, made up of the territorial aggregation of neighbouring single-member districts, each one being generally allocated a number of seats ranging between three and eight.

As regards the Senate, the national territory is divided into 20 constituencies corresponding to the territory of each Region. Every regional constituency is divided into single-member districts and in one or more multi-member districts. The national territory is divided into 116 single-member districts.

Multi-member districts are made up of the territorial aggregation of neighbouring single-member districts, each one being generally allocated a number of seats ranging between two and eight.

The definition of single-member districts – as well as multi-member districts – depends on a legislative delegation to be enforced 30 days before the coming into force of the Law, upon parliamentary opinion, on the basis of the criteria and the guiding principles provided for by the law.

Submission of electoral rolls

Every political party or group intending to stand for elections – both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate – shall submit to the Ministry of the Interior and within the deadlines set:

  • One's party symbol and name;
  • One's electoral programme, in which the name and surname of the political party leader are stated;
  • One's statutes or, failing which, a statement containing the minimum transparency requirements provided for by the law.

The information above shall be published in a special section of the website of the Ministry of the Interior, called «Elezioni trasparenti» (Transparent Elections).

Both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate, organised political parties or groups may stand for elections as a single list or in a coalition. The coalition shall be the same at a national level, and the parties joining forces in a coalition shall present common candidates in single-member districts, exception made for the lists representing recognised linguistic minorities, which may present their candidates separately.

Both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate, in every multi-member district, each roll is made up of a list of candidates, presented according to a numerical order. The number of candidates in the list shall not be lower than the half of the seats allocated to the multi-member district, and shall not exceed the threshold of seats allocated to the multi-member district; in any case, the number of candidates shall neither be lower than two nor higher than four.

Each list shall present its candidates in at least two thirds of the multi-member districts of the entire constituency, under penalty of inadmissibility.

Multicandidacies and gender representation

Both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate, each candidate shall not be included in the lists bearing the same party symbol in more than 5 multi-member districts, under penalty of nullity or invalidity of the election. Standing as candidate in more than one single-member district shall be considered as null and void. A candidate in a single-member district may also stand as candidate in multi-member districts, without prejudice to the threshold of 5.

A member of the Chamber of Deputies elected in several multi-member districts is declared elected in the district in which his/her list obtained the lowest percentage of valid votes out of total valid votes in the district. A member of the Chamber of Deputies elected in a single-member district and in one or more multi-member districts shall be declared as elected in the single-member district.

Special provisions apply to ensure gender representation.

In the first place, under penalty of ineligibility, candidates shall be listed in the rolls of multi-member districts, for both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, according to an alternating gender order.

At the same time, the provisions for the election to the Chamber of Deputies state that out of the total number of candidacies submitted by each list or coalition list in single-member districts at a national level, none of the two genders shall be represented in a percentage exceeding 60 per cent. Furthermore, out of the total lists in multi-member districts presented by each list at a national level, none of the two genders shall be represented as leading candidate in a percentage exceeding 60 per cent. The National Central Office ensures compliance with such provisions.

As regards the Senate, the same provisions are enforced at a regional level, and the Regional Elections Office shall ensure compliance with such provisions.

How to cast votes

Each voter may cast one vote in a single ballot paper, bearing the name of the candidate in the single-member district and the electoral symbol of each list; in case of coalition lists, ballot papers shall include the electoral symbols of such lists, besides the names of the candidates – from two to four – in the multi-member district. Split voting (voto disgiunto) is not allowed.

Each vote is cast by marking the rectangle containing the electoral symbol of the list and the name of the candidate in the multi-member district. The vote is validly cast to the list and to the candidate in the single-member district. In case the mark is put on the name of the candidate to the single-member district only, the vote shall however be valid in favour of the list and for the election of the candidate in the single-member district; in case of several lists within a coalition, the votes will be distributed among the coalition lists proportionally to the votes obtained by each of them in the single-member district.

The procedures on how to cast votes are also described in the outer part of the ballot paper.

Election thresholds and allocation of seats

In single-member districts seats are allocated to the candidate receiving the highest number of votes validly cast; in case of a tie, the youngest candidate is elected.

As regards the seats to be allocated to the lists and coalitions of lists in multi-member districts, the allocation is performed at a national level for the Chamber of Deputies, through a proportional method, among the coalitions of lists and the lists exceeding the election thresholds.

The threshold to access the allocation of seats is 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level for single lists, and 10% of the votes validly cast at a national level for coalitions, provided that at least one of the lists of the coalition obtained 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level (the threshold for inter-coalition lists is 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level, also in case the coalition does not reach the 10% threshold). As far as coalitions are concerned, the votes obtained by the lists not exceeding the threshold of 1% will not be taken into account.

As regards the Senate, the seats to the lists are allocated at a regional level through the proportional method.

The threshold to allocate the seats is set – as it happens with the Chamber of Deputies – at 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level for individual lists, and 10% for coalitions, provided that at least one of the lists in the coalition obtains 3% of the votes validly cast nationally or 20% in a Region (the threshold for inter-coalition lists is in any case 3% of the votes validly cast at a national level or 20% of the valid votes in at least one Region, even in case the coalition does not reach the threshold of 10%). As far as coalitions are concerned, the votes obtained by the lists not exceeding the threshold of 1% will not be taken into account.

The allocation of regional seats to the Senate also involves the lists – either individual or in coalition – that obtained at least 20% of votes validly cast in at least one Region.

Special provisions protect the lists representing recognised linguistic minorities standing for elections in a Special Autonomous Region whose statutes or relevant laws provide for particular protection of such minorities.

In the particular case of Valle d'Aosta, where one seat to the Chamber of Deputies and one seat to the Senate are allocated, special provisions are in force for the election in both chambers of Parliament: a single-member district is established for the election to the Chamber of Deputies and to the Senate, where the candidate obtaining – through the majority method – the highest number of votes validly cast is elected.

Proclamation of candidates elected, vacancy of seats, and transitional and final provisions

After the proclamation of candidates elected in single-member districts through the majority method, the number of seats to be allocated to coalitions and lists (either individual or in coalition) is determined. At the end of such procedures, the candidates are proclaimed elected in each multi-member district, within the limits of the seats to which each list is entitled, and according to the order presented in the list.

A description is also provided on the procedures through which candidates are proclaimed elected – both at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate – in case of exhaustion of the list presented in the multi-member district.

In case of vacancy of the seats allocated in single-member districts, by-elections shall be held.

The law also includes some transitional and final provisions on the exemption from the collection of signatures in the first elections following the date of coming into force of the law; on the time frame set to apply the option concerning the vote of Italian citizens temporarily living abroad; on the requirements to stand as candidates in the Overseas Constituency; on the subjects eligible to certify the collection of signatures for the submission of electoral lists.