Rome, 3 Sept. (LaPresse) – The Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee has approved the amendment tabled by the majority to the electoral law, which stipulates that “with the exception of the list leader, voters may cast up to three preferences”. “Each voter has one vote to cast on a single ballot paper bearing the symbol of each list, accompanied by the names of the candidates in the multi-member constituency and the candidates on the constituency lists submitted for the purposes of the possible allocation of the governability bonus. Furthermore, each voter may cast up to three preferences in favour of candidates in the multi-member constituency of the list voted for, from among those who are not the list leaders. The preference vote is cast by placing a mark in the square next to the first name and surname of the chosen candidate, as shown in the appropriate column next to the list symbol. “Where more than one preference is expressed, these must relate to candidates of different genders, otherwise the second and third preferences in the list order shall be invalidated”, the proposed amendment further states. “The number of candidates shall, in any case, be seven, including the lead candidate. On pain of inadmissibility, the candidates, including the lead candidate, shall be placed in an alternating gender order”.
Electoral law: committee approves amendment on preference votes
Rome, 3 Sept. (LaPresse) – The Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee has approved the amendment tabled by the majority to the electoral law, which stipulates that “with the exception of the list leader, voters may cast up to three preferences”. “Each voter has one vote to cast on a single ballot paper bearing the symbol of each list, accompanied by the names of the candidates in the multi-member constituency and the candidates on the constituency lists submitted for the purposes of the possible allocation of the governability bonus. Furthermore, each voter may cast up to three preferences in favour of candidates in the multi-member constituency of the list voted for, from among those who are not the list leaders. The preference vote is cast by placing a mark in the square next to the first name and surname of the chosen candidate, as shown in the appropriate column next to the list symbol. “Where more than one preference is expressed, these must relate to candidates of different genders, otherwise the second and third preferences in the list order shall be invalidated”, the proposed amendment further states. “The number of candidates shall, in any case, be seven, including the lead candidate. On pain of inadmissibility, the candidates, including the lead candidate, shall be placed in an alternating gender order”.