How does italy vote

Salvini and Meloni, while officially right-wing allies, have been warily sizing each other up, since both have ambitions to be Italian premier. A parliamentary election is due in early , but both leaders have been pressing to vote sooner.

The Democrats will likely need an alliance with the Movement to counter the rising popularity of right-wing forces when national elections are held. Meloni was the only major leader to refuse to join the unusual coalition, which includes technocrats as well as ministers from leftist, centrists, right-wing and populist parties. Sections U. Science Technology Business U. Italians vote for mayors of Rome, Milan, other key cities. Voting will take place between 7 a. ET and 11 p. The result is not expected to be officially counted until 2 p.

Monday, however. Italian politics can seem a muddle of shifting alliances and allegiances and the country is not renowned for its political stability, having had 65 governments now and numerous prime ministers since World War II. In , there are "old faces" to look out for, such as the ever-resurgent Silvio Berlusconi, and some new personalities too.

Most importantly, Italy's political landscape is littered with coalitions and these could be decisive in the election result. So while the main parties are important, the alliances with other minor parties could prove decisive. In addition, there are around 10 other smaller coalitions — ranging from the Revolutionary Left and Communist Party to the far-right neofascist 'CasaPound' and Italia agli Italiani Italy for the Italians — in the election race.

Opinion polls in the months leading up to the election have pointed to a hung parliament where no one party will gain a majority to govern alone, hence the pre-formed coalition alliances. However, polls have shown that although Berlusconi's center-right is seen as the strongest coalition, M5S is the most popular single party.

Italy has imposed a day publishing blackout prior to the election. While Italian voter polls have tended historically to be misleading anyway, the last opinion poll released on February 16 pointed to a stalemate between the main parties. The Termometro Politico poll , which interviewed 4, people between February 3 and 10, showed M5S receiving Forza Italia had The poll showed the PD party trailing with around A coalition of center-left parties led by PD had Italy uses preferential voting , which gives the voters the option to indicate their preferences within the party list they choose.

Candidates who receive the most preferences are more likely to be elected. The lists of candidates should be presented for each constituency 39 or 40 days before election day.

Before that, between the 49th and the 48th days prior to the election, the symbol of each list of candidates should have been submitted to the national authority Ministry of Interiors. By the 36th day prior to election day, the electoral office of each constituency decides on the admissibility of the lists.

The poster with all candidates listed below the relevant symbol, will be printed by the competent national authority and distributed to all municipalities to be displayed in the reserved spaces within the 8th day before the vote.

European Elections What is the date of the elections? The elections take place on Sunday 26 May in Italy. Where can I vote? What is the voting age? In Italy; you have to be at least 18 years old to vote in the European elections. What is the deadline to register to vote? Where should I register to vote?