1. Electoral Structure: Italy follows a parliamentary republic system. The country is divided into 20 regions, and elections are held at the national level to elect representatives to the Italian Parliament.
2. Italian Parliament: The Italian Parliament consists of two houses – the Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati) and the Senate of the Republic (Senato della Repubblica).
3. Chamber of Deputies: The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Italian Parliament. It consists of 630 members, known as Deputies, who are elected through a mixed-member proportional representation system. 386 Deputies are elected in single-member constituencies using a plurality voting system, while 232 Deputies are elected through a proportional representation system based on party lists.
4. Senate of the Republic: The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It consists of 315 members, known as Senators. Senators are elected through a combination of regional and national proportional representation. The number of Senators elected from each region varies based on population size.
5. Voting System: Italy has undergone several changes in its voting system in recent years. The current system for the Chamber of Deputies is a combination of a plurality system and proportional representation, while the Senate uses a proportional representation system.
6. Election Timing: The President of the Republic, upon the advice of the Prime Minister, has the authority to dissolve the Parliament and call for new elections. The term for the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate is generally five years, but elections can be called earlier if the government loses a vote of confidence or if the President decides to dissolve the Parliament.
7. Ministry of the Interior: The Ministry of the Interior oversees the electoral process in Italy. It is responsible for voter registration, candidate nominations, and the administration of the elections.
8. Voter Eligibility: To be eligible to vote in national elections in Italy, a person must be an Italian citizen and at least 18 years old on the day of the election. Voters must be registered on the electoral roll.
