MAIL VOTING FOR ITALIAN CITIZENS ABROAD AND OPTION TO VOTE IN ITALY
By Presidential Decree of January 13, 2026, published in the Official Journal of January 14, 2026, the date of the referendum pursuant to Article 138 of the Constitution for the amendment of certain articles of the Constitution (so-called “Justice Reform”) was set for March 22 and 23, 2026.
Please note that VOTING is a RIGHT protected by the Italian Constitution and that, pursuant to Law No. 459 of December 27, 2001, Italian citizens residing or temporarily abroad who are registered on the electoral rolls may VOTE BY MAIL, receiving their electoral package at their residential address. To this end, it is recommended that you immediately check and, if necessary, update your personal details and address with the relevant consular office (please note that by law, ballot packages must be sent approximately one month before the date of the vote in Italy), preferably using the Fast It online consular services portal.
As an alternative to voting by mail, voters registered with AIRE may choose to vote in Italy at their municipality of electoral registration, by communicating their choice (OPTION) in writing to the Consulate within 10 days of the referendum being called. The choice (option) to vote in Italy is valid only for the referendum for which it is expressed.
The OPTION must reach the Consular Office no later than ten days after the election is announced, i.e., BY 24/01/2026.
To submit this form, you can use the appropriate downloadable form from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (www.esteri.it) or from your local consular office.
The completed, signed, and accompanied by proof of identity form can be delivered or sent to your local consular office by hand, by mail, by e-mail (emergenza.islamabad@esteri.it), or by certified email (PEC) amb.islamabad.consolare@cert.esteri.it.
The option notification may also be written on plain paper; in any case, to be valid, it must contain the voter’s name, surname, date and place of birth, place of residence, and signature. It must be sent along with a copy of the declarant’s identity document.
Current legislation requires voters to ensure that the mailed option notification has been received in a timely manner by their consular office. Requests received after the above deadline will NOT be considered valid.
The choice to vote in Italy may subsequently be REVOKED by written notification sent or delivered to the consular office using the same methods and by the same date as the option was exercised.
The law does NOT provide any type of reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for returning to Italy for the vote, but only discounted fares within Italy.
FOR ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CONSULAR OFFICE.
