Low Voter Turnout Renders Italian Citizenship Referendum Invalid

Italy's referendum on citizenship reform dissolved after only 30% of voters participated, falling short of the required 50% to be valid. The result is seen as a setback for civil rights groups advocating for easier pathways to citizenship.

A referendum meant to revise citizenship laws and bolster worker rights in Italy has been declared invalid following minimal participation from voters. Held on June 8 and 9, the vote saw only 30% of eligible voters cast their ballots, significantly below the necessary 50% threshold to render the outcome binding.

The polling encompassed five key questions, notably a proposal to shorten the residency duration required for citizenship from ten years to five. Initiated by a citizens' group and backed by various civil organizations and trade unions, the movement aimed to garner a yes vote among the populace. However, dismal turnout rates—dropping to as low as 22% in regions like Sicily and Calabria—underscored the obstacles faced by advocates.

The low participation figures reflect a broader trend, aggravated by the current Italian government led by hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which largely neglected the referendum or actively dissuaded public engagement. Meloni publicly announced her intent to boycott the vote, labeling the existing citizenship regulations as “excellent” and “very open.” Even as she made a symbolic visit to a polling place in Rome, she refrained from exercising her vote.

Activists have expressed that the lengthy waiting period for citizenship applications is excessively burdensome, arguing that a shift to a five-year requirement would align Italy with its European counterparts. In a post signaling their victory, Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party highlighted the failure of the referendum's proponents.

Pina Picierno of the opposition Democratic Party (PD) described the result as a "deep, serious and avoidable defeat," lamenting the missed opportunity to challenge Meloni’s government. A half-million signatures are required to initiate a referendum in Italy, sparking discussions about possibly raising this threshold to mitigate the frequency of public votes.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani criticized the expenditure on ballots distributed globally for expat voting, underscoring the impact of the low turnout. Historically, less than half of Italy's 78 referendums since World War II have met the participation requirement, with the last successful vote occurring in 2011 against a privatization law for water services.