Local Elections and Referendum 2025

The Council of Ministers has approved a decree-law introducing urgent provisions for the conduct of the administrative elections and referendums scheduled for 2025. The decision came following a proposal by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi.

ITALY. Among the main innovations introduced by the decree:

• Voting will take place over two days: Sunday and Monday, surpassing the current rule of a single voting day.
• The operational procedures in case of simultaneous conduct of administrative elections and referendums are regulated, including the rules for the scrutiny and allocation of expenses among the different consultations.
• The possibility to vote is extended to citizens who, for study, work, or medical treatment reasons, find themselves temporarily residing in a different province from their usual place of residence. These voters will be able to participate in referendums, thus ensuring greater inclusivity.
• The computer services of the Electoral Information System (SIEL) of the Ministry of the Interior will be enhanced to improve the management of voting operations.
• Voters unable to physically sign will be able to sign the electoral lists through qualified electronic signature, further simplifying the procedures.

During the meeting, Minister Piantedosi informed the Council of Ministers of the intention to call for the administrative elections on Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26, with possible runoffs on Sunday, June 8 and Monday, June 9, 2025.

Furthermore, to encourage maximum voter participation and at the same time limit interruptions to school activities at polling stations, there is a proposal to combine the conduct of the five abrogative referendums with the second round of local elections, namely Sunday, June 8 and Monday, June 9.

The measure responds to the dual need to promote democratic participation and to ensure an efficient organization of consultations, also enhancing the role of technology to simplify access and management of the electoral process.