On 14 March 2017 the Council of Ministers has adopted the decision to set the date of 28 May for a popular referendum on two issues: the “abrogation of limitations on shared responsibility towards contract workers” and the “abrogation of limitations in respect of ancillary works” vouchers. The Presidential Decree calling for the electoral campaign was issued on 15 March 2017 and published on the Government Gazette on the same day.
VOTERS LIVING ABROAD AND AIRE MEMBERS
Voters residing abroad and registered in A.I.R.E. (Register of Italians living abroad) will be receiving, as usual, an electoral kit at their address. Please remember that it is up to each person to update his/her own address with the Consulate.
Those who wish to cast their vote in Italy (as opposed to voting by correspondence) and are permanently living abroad must submit, to their relevant Consulate, a declaration to that effect (free of consular stamps) indicating the following: name and surname, date and place of birth, place of residence, Italian Municipality of registration, an indication of the election/referendum for which the voter wants to opt to vote in Italy. The declaration has to be dated and signed by the voter and a photocopy of an Identity Document must be attached. It can be posted, faxed, sent by e-mail or certified mail, or handed in to the Consulate by a third party BY THE 25 MARCH 2017, i.e. within ten days following the date of publication of the Presidential Decree calling for electoral campaign (Government Gazette no. 62 of 15/03/2017). The option form as set out in the attachment is non-binding and can be used as a template.
VOTERS TEMPORARILY ABROAD (AT LEAST THREE MONTHS)
Italians voters, as well as their cohabiting family members, who for reasons of work, study or medical care are temporarily abroad for a period of at least three months, during which period a Referendum or Election is held, may take part in the vote by correspondence organized by the Italian Consular Offices (Law no. 459 of 27 December 2001, as amended by Law of 6 May 2015, no. 52).
These voters should send a declaration OPTING to vote abroad by correspondence to the Italian Municipality where they are registered in the Voters’ Roll by the 26 APRIL 2017 (with possibility of revocation within the same period).
The option declaration can be posted, faxed, sent by e-mail or certified mail, or handed in to the relevant Italian Municipality by a third party (the certified e-mail addresses of Italian Municipalities are available on www.indicepa.gov.it).
A copy of a valid Identification Document has to be attached to the Option Form which must also state the foreign postal address to which the ballot papers should be sent and indicate the Consular/Embassy responsible for that jurisdiction. Along with the above, under the same cover, an Affidavit stating that the voter meets the requirements for admission to voting by correspondence (namely that the voter is temporarily staying in a foreign country for work, study reasons or medical treatment for a period of at least three months during which the Referendum is taking place; or to be a family member of such a voter [paragraph 1 of Art. 4-bis of the aforementioned Law no. 459 of 2001]). The Affidavit must be made in accordance with Articles 46 and 47 of the Presidential Decree of 28 December 2000, no. 445 (consolidating the legislative and regulatory provisions on administrative documentation), declaring that he/she is aware of the legal consequences in the case of false declarations (art. 76 of Presidential Decree 445/2000).
Johannesburg 17 March 2017
Modello opzione iscritti AIRE votanti in Italia
