Italy: Referendum, 17 April 2016

At stake in this election:

• This referendum seeks to change a previously passed law stating that offshore drilling concessions should stay in effect until the oilfield is depleted. If approved, drilling licenses would have stricter time limitations.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Sergio MATTARELLA (3 February 2015)
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Matteo RENZI (since 22 February 2014)
• Assembly: Italy has a bicameral Parlamento (Parliament) consisting of the Senato della Repubblica (Senate) and the Camera dei Deputati (Chamber of Deputies). The Senate is composed of 322 seats and the Chamber of Deputies has 630.

Electoral requirements:

• The referendum requires at least a 50% voter turnout to be considered valid. For the referendum to be passed, there must be a majority of valid votes cast in favor of the provisions.

Main provisions in the referendum:

• Do you want when the concessions expire, that the drilling is stopped in Italian territorial waters, whether or not there is still gas or oil?
  • “Volete che, quando scadranno le concessioni, vengano fermati i giacimenti in attività nelle acque territoriali italiane anche se c’è ancora gas o petrolio?”

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 61,855,120 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 46,905,154 (2013)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 32,032,123 (July 2015 est.)

·         Is Italy a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Italy ratified CEDAW: Yes (10 June 1985)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 289 (30.36%)[1]

·         Human Development Index Position: 27 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very Low (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Italy a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Italy ratified CRPD: Yes (15 May 2009)

·         Population with a disability: 9,278,268