Italian overseas voting reform proposals submitted by CGIE

The Council General of Italians Abroad (CGIE) has forwarded a set of recommendations to the Italian Parliament concerning recent changes to the electoral law governing the overseas constituency. The document urges lawmakers to preserve the security and integrity of voting for Italians living abroad, to maintain the current territorial allocation of seats, and to keep the preferential voting system. It also calls for a more coherent candidacy discipline and for mandatory CGIE consultation on any measure affecting Italians abroad, as stipulated by the law establishing the council. The recommendations reiterate statements made by CGIE Secretary‑General Maria Chiara Prodi during a hearing before the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies on 4 May and in subsequent institutional venues, urging swift formalisation of the compulsory opinion requirement.

The CGIE stresses that any amendment reducing or eliminating the existing overseas districts would severely compromise the democratic representation of the Italian diaspora, and it seeks to ensure full protection of voting rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.