Italian citizens living abroad and regularly registered with AIRE may exercise their right to vote abroad in their place of residence for national elections, for abrogative and constitutional referendums under Articles 75 and 138 of the Constitution and for European Parliament elections. Where established, citizens can also participate in the election of Committees of Italians Abroad (COMITES). However, voting abroad is not foreseen for the election of regional, municipal, and provincial councils, nor for local referendum.
Voting abroad for national elections and referendums is governed by Law No. 459 of December 27, 2001 and its implementing regulations (Presidential Decree No. 104 of April 2, 2003), implementing Articles 48, 56 and 57 of the Constitution, which established the Overseas Constituency. Law No. 52 of May 6, 2015 (the so-called “Italicum”) laid down that citizens temporarily abroad for a period of at least three months for work, study or medical treatment may also request their Municipality to vote abroad by correspondence. The provision will take effect for the election of the Chamber of Deputies as from July 1, 2016, while it is immediately effective for any referendum held after the entry into force of the Law (May 23, 2015).
For further information regarding political elections and referendum, you can consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: National elections and referendums – Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale
Voting abroad for the election of Italian representatives to the European Parliament is instead regulated by Law No. 18 of January 24, 1979 and by Decree-Law No. 408 of June 24, 1994 (converted into Law No. 483 of August 3, 1994). Unlike elections regulated by Law No. 459/2001, participation in European Parliament elections is reserved only for compatriots residing in an EU member state and registered with AIRE.
For more information regarding voting abroad, please visit the following page: Voting abroad – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation