Low voter participation in Italy's referendum prompts concerns over democratic instability

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Italy's referendums on various topics, including citizenship and workers' rights, have garnered quite the buzz, but not for a good reason. The jaw-dropping outcome – a dreadful turnout of only over 30% – is not what the organizers were hoping for, failing to meet the 50% threshold needed for the results to be valid.

The low-key citizenship referendum, along with four others, took place on the 8th and 9th of June, and the voter participation rate was indeed a far cry from the expected target. This disappointing turnout left Maurizio Landini, leader of Italian trade union CGIL, feeling disheartened, referring to the situation as a "clear democratic crisis" in Italy.

READ ALSO: Mourning the Loss of Italy's Landmark Citizenship Reform**

However, Italy's right-wing coalition government rejoiced in the result, celebrating it as a victory. Why you ask? Well, they were the driving force behind discouraging voters from participating in the referendums. They openly posed opposing the proposed reforms and encouraged their supporters to boycott the vote.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party even posted on Facebook claiming "YOU LOST," with a picture of opposition party leaders plastered over the caption. In response to the referendums, Meloni had stated publicly that she would not participate in any of the referendums and that abstention was indeed an option when one doesn't agree.

READ ALSO: Stay Home: Italy's Government Boycotts Dangerous Citizenship Vote**

The nation has come to expect low voter participation in national referendums, as it has been in decline for decades. In the past 50 years, only 39 out of the 77 referendums held have met the voter threshold. Furthermore, historically, only four of those referendums were held within the past 30 years.

It's difficult to determine the extent to which the government's abstention campaign truly affected turnout in this referendum. However, some individuals argue that the tactic, along with the lack of information, led to the low turnout.

Riccardo Magi, leader of the centrist +Europa party, which had advocated for the citizenship reform, stated that "organized abstentionism strengthened by spontaneous abstentionism and lack of information" had ultimately won the day.[1]

Lorenzo Pregliasco, head of political polling agency Youtrend, revealed to Huffpost Italia that the referendum now "seems like a tool in crisis." But, he cautioned,There were other factors at play, potentially causing the lower-than-anticipated voter participation, such as the politicization of the vote, particularly in the last few weeks, and the campaign's exclusion of voters not necessarily on the left.[1]

Politicians in Italy often tie support for a referendum to support for their own party, a strategy with questionable outcomes, as demonstrated in the past with former PM Matteo Renzi. In 2016, Renzi was forced to step down after tying a vote for his referendum on constitutional reform to confidence in his leadership, which ultimately resulted in a loss.[1]

But, Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, sought to spin the outcome as a win for the opposition. According to Schlein, more voters voted for the referendums than those who put Meloni in office in 2022. "Politics that celebrates abstention only hurts itself," she claimed.[2]

Following the referendum results, there have been calls for a reform of referendum rules from both ends of the political spectrum. The failure of Italy's most recent referendums has sparked discussions about modifying the referendum law, increasing the number of signatures needed for a vote, and lowering or even abolishing the voter threshold (or quorum) required for a referendum to be valid. Some suggest adopting a lower quorum since no referendum has reached this threshold in recent years.[2][3]

#Voting Matters### Insights

Italy has historically experienced low voter participation in national referendums, with only 39 out of the 77 held over the past 50 years meeting the voter threshold, and only four of those in the past 30 years.
The politicization of referendums and the campaign's exclusion of voters not necessarily on the left could have played a role in the lower-than-expected turnout.
Modifying the referendum law, increasing the number of signatures required, lowering the voter threshold, or eliminating it altogether are potential solutions to improve the current situation.

The italian government, led by prime minister Giorgia Meloni, celebrated the low turnout of Italy's referendums, as they were the driving force behind discouraging voters from participating, particularly in the citizenship referendum.
The low voter participation in Italy's referendums, including the citizenship and related referendums, has been a significant concern, with only over 30% of citizens participating – a far cry from the 50% threshold needed for the results to be valid.
The disappointing turnout of Italy's recent referendums has led to calls for reform of the referendum laws from both ends of the political spectrum, including suggestions to increase the number of signatures required, lower the voter threshold, or even abolish it entirely.
The low voter participation in Italy's referendums is not a new issue, as it has been in decline for decades, with only 39 out of the 77 referendums held over the past 50 years meeting the voter threshold, and only four of those in the past 30 years.
Italy's political landscape is becoming increasingly contentious, with politicians frequently tying support for a referendum to support for their own party, a strategy that has questionable outcomes and contributes to the politicization of votes, as exemplified by the recent citizenship and related referendums.

Low voter participation in Italy's referendum prompts concerns over democratic instability