Italy electoral reform debate

In late July 2026, Italy’s governing centre-right coalition moved close to an agreement to re-introduce preferential voting in the next electoral reform, a change the prime minister said would boost voter choice and turnout ahead of a planned September vote. The proposal seeks to shift power from party-controlled lists toward individual candidates, potentially altering intra-coalition dynamics.

At the same time, the Council General of Italians Abroad (CGIE) submitted recommendations to Parliament urging that any reform preserve the existing overseas constituency, retain preferential voting for expatriates, and maintain the current territorial allocation of seats. The CGIE called for mandatory consultation with the council on any measure affecting Italians abroad, warning that reducing or eliminating overseas districts would undermine democratic representation of the diaspora.

By late August, debates in the Chamber of Deputies over the proposed reform, referred to as the ‘Stabilicum’, have highlighted significant disagreements regarding preferential voting. Five female deputies from various political factions—representing Azione, Lega, Forza Italia, Partito Democratico, and Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra—signed an appeal against the mechanism. They argue it may penalize female representation by favoring candidates with established personal networks and significant economic resources. Conversely, some parliamentarians from Italia Viva and Partito Democratico contend that preferential voting could actually strengthen the presence of women in Parliament. The reform is scheduled to reach the Senate for a vote on September 15, with discussions also covering technical issues such as a 3% party threshold and government stability.