The participation data in the Italian elections at 7:00 p.m. in the afternoon was around 51%, which translates into a severe drop in participation. In the last general elections, those of 2018, the turnout at the polls at the same time was 58.96%, almost 8 points higher. The polls will remain open until 11:00 p.m.
The turnout figure at 12:00 noon had been 19.21%, a figure very similar to the 19.43% registered at the same time in the previous general elections. This second turnout figure, on the other hand, represents a drastic drop in turnout, a trend that some surveys had already anticipated.
The participation data, logically, are not homogeneous. The decline in participation is being especially pronounced in the south and in the center-south of the country. In the Campania region it had fallen almost 14 points at 7:00 p.m., falling below 40%, and in Calabria almost 13 points, remaining at around 37%.
The highest participation data is being recorded, in general terms, in the north. In Lombardy, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna the turnout at 7:00 p.m. was close to 60%, although in all three regions it is lower than in 2018. The smallest drop in turnout has been recorded in the Lazio region, where practically 53% participation is maintained, as it was four years ago at the same time.
About 51 million Italians are summoned to the polls to elect 600 parliamentarians (400 deputies and 200 senators), which represents a significant cut compared to the current 945 (630 and 315) adopted in a reform approved in a referendum and 2, 7 million young people will have the opportunity to vote for the first time.
There is also a vote in the region of Sicily (south) for the election of its president and the renewal of its Assembly.
Abstainers and undecided voters will play an important role in the results, which according to these latest polls were around 40%, a figure so high that it can change any result, although on this occasion it seems unlikely that the right will not obtain an absolute majority. .
The majority of candidates have voted this morning. The favorite, however, will not do it until the night. The far-right Giorgia Meloni was scheduled to vote this morning in Rome, but she has finally changed the schedule until late in the day due to the crush of photographers and reporters waiting for her at her polling station.
Meloni, 45, who was going to vote at 11:00 local time (9:00 GMT), wants to "prevent voters from being able to vote calmly due to the massive presence of the media" and has decided to delay his vote from at 10:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. GMT), local media reported.
