Italians election turnout: Big rise in voting - poll is higher than in the last TEN years
ITALIANS are flocking to vote as polling stations have registered so far a higher turnout than in the last elections, which took place in 2013. Latest data show more than 19 percent of Italians have already cast their ballots.
Voters queue at polling station to cast vote in Italian election
First turnout projections shared by the Italian Home Office Ministero degli Interni at 12.26 pm local time (11 am GMT) show that 19.23 percent of people went to vote this morning.
The data are only partial, as they show the turnout in only 4,317 constituencies, roughly half of the total number Italians are voting in, but they already signal a rise in the number of people who voted compared to the last elections.
On February 24, 2013, when the last general elections took place in Italy, 14.94 per cent of people went to vote before 12 pm.
The 2013 elections took place in two days, across the whole day of Sunday and Monday morning.
Today’s turnout is higher also than the one recorded in 2008 as well, when 16.5 per cent of Italians cast their ballot before noon.
Italians’ turnout at the elections have been decreasing since early 2000s.
These latest data could be a sign of a reversing trend.
Queues and delays have been registered in many polling stations, where a new, longer procedure that should make sure that no illegalities take place, have been implemented.
Polling stations opened this morning at 7 local time (6 am GMT) and will close at 11.00 pm (10 pm GMT), with exit polls due immediately afterwards.
The vote is being held under a complex new electoral law called Rosatellum, which means the final result might not be clear until late Monday.