January 26, 2026
VOTING BY MAIL FOR ITALIAN CITIZENS TEMPORARILY ABROAD FOR WORK, STUDY, OR MEDICAL TREATMENT
By Presidential Decree of January 13, 2026, published in the “Gazzetta Ufficiale” on 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”) is set for March 22 and 23, 2026.
Voters resident in Italy who are temporarily abroad for work, study, or medical treatment for a period of at least three months, which includes the date of the next referendum pursuant to Article 138 of the Constitution (March 22 and 23, 2026), as well as their family members living with them, may exercise their right to vote by mail pursuant to Article 138 of the Constitution. 4-bis, paragraph 1, Law 27 December 2001, n. 459.
To receive the electoral package (containing the ballot) at their address of temporary residence abroad, the aforementioned voters must submit a specific option DIRECTLY to their municipality where they are registered on the electoral rolls by Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The option (exercisable using the attached form or on plain paper) must be sent to the municipality where they are registered on the electoral rolls by mail, regular e-mail, or certified e-mail. Alternatively, it can be submitted in person, even by a person authorized by the interested party.
The option, which must be accompanied by a copy of the voter’s valid ID, must in any case contain the complete foreign postal address to which the electoral package is to be sent, as well as the name of the competent Consular Office for the area. It must also contain a declaration certifying that you meet the requirements for voting by mail, namely, that you are temporarily abroad for work, study, or medical treatment for a period of at least three months (including the date of the elections) in a foreign country where you are not registered as a resident, or that you are a family member living with a citizen who meets the aforementioned conditions. This procedure also applies to Italian citizens registered with AIRE, temporarily residing in a consular district other than their permanent residence.
The option must be made pursuant to Articles 46 and 47 of Presidential Decree No. 445 of December 28, 2000 (Consolidated Law on Legislative and Regulatory Provisions on Administrative Documentation), and the votermust express declare their awareness of the criminal consequences that may arise in connection to false declarations (Article 76 of the aforementioned Presidential Decree 445/2000).
Submitted options may be revoked according to the procedures described above within the same deadline (February 18, 2026). Finally, please note that the option is valid only for the election for which it is being exercised.
