Italy pushes forward new electoral law without runoff

Italy is drafting a new electoral law that would eliminate a second‑round runoff. The proposal, currently before the Senate, keeps the party list system largely unchanged, with blocked capi‑lista and limited use of preference votes for small and medium parties.

Political scientist Roberto D’Alimonte said the reform is likely to last only one parliamentary term and criticized the absence of a runoff as a key weakness. The bill also includes a gender alternation provision and retains the possibility of preferential voting, which continues to divide parliamentarians.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attempted to introduce a runoff mechanism but withdrew the idea after opposition from coalition partners, leaving the system as a hybrid without a true second‑round option.