VOTING BY MAIL FOR ITALIAN CITIZENS RESIDING ABROAD AND OPTION TO VOTE IN ITALY
By decree of the Italian President of the Republic dated January 13, 2026, and published in the “Gazzetta Ufficiale” on January 14, 2026, the dates of MARCH 22 and 23, 2026, have been set aside for the referendum announced pursuant to Article 138 of the Constitution, concerning amendments to certain articles of the Constitution (so-called “Justice Reform”).
It is reminded 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 staying abroad, registered on the electoral lists, may VOTE BY MAIL, receiving their electoral package at their address of residence. To this end, it is recommended to check and, if necessary, immediately update one’s personal information and address details with the competent Consular Office (under Italian law, electoral packages must be sent approximately one month before the vote in Italy), preferably using the online consular services portal Fast It.
As an alternative to voting by mail, registered AIRE electors may choose to vote in Italy at their municipality of registration by submitting their choice (OPTION) in writing to the Consulate within ten days from the announcement of the referendum. The choice (option) to vote in Italy applies only to the specific referendum for which it is expressed.
The OPTION must be received by the Consular Office no later than ten days after the announcement of the consultation, i.e. in this case, by January 24, 2026.
For this purpose, a dedicated form is available for download from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (www.esteri.it) and from the website of the relevant Consular Office – available here.
The completed and signed form, accompanied by valid ID, may be submitted or sent to the relevant Consular Office in person, by mail, by ordinary email, or by certified electronic email (PEC). Relevant addresses are available on the website of the respective Consulate.
The communication of the “Option” may also be submitted on plain paper; in any case, to be valid, it must include the elector’s first name, surname, date and place of birth, place of residence and signature, and must be sent together with a copy of the voter’s ID.
Current legislation requires electors to ensure that their postal communication of the “Option” has been received in due time by the relevant Consular Office. Requests received after the above deadline will not be considered valid.
The choice to vote in Italy may subsequently be REVOKED by a written communication submitted to the Consular Office using the same methods and within the same deadline provided for exercising the option.
The law DOES NOT foresee the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred to return to Italy for voting purposes, but travel cost discounts are available within the Italian territory. – List of Consular Offices in the United States.
