Italy Referendum Fizzles as Voters Stay Home

Intermediate | June 10, 2025

✨ 혼자서 기사를 소리 내어 읽거나 튜터를 따라 각 단락을 반복해서 읽으세요. 레벨...

Citizenship and Labor Rights on the Ballot

Italy recently held a nationwide referendum on June 8th and 9th. Voters were asked to decide on two important topics: making it easier to get Italian citizenship and strengthening labor rights for workers.

Citizenship Proposal Details

On citizenship, the proposal aimed to reduce the required time living in Italy for non-European Union citizens to apply for citizenship, from 10 years down to just five. Supporters said this would help integrate about 2.5 million foreign nationals living in the country and align Italy with other European nations like France and Germany.

Labor Rights Measures

The other part of the vote focused on improving job protections. There were four measures on the ballot related to labor law, including making it harder to fire workers, increasing payments for those who lose their jobs, and ensuring better safety at work.

Voter Turnout Was Low: Italy Referendum Low Turnout in Focus

Even though the topics were important for many people, especially foreign residents and workers, the big news is that not many Italians went to vote. Initial data showed a very low turnout, drawing national and international attention to the issue of Italy referendum low turnout.

Public Awareness and Timing

One reason for the low turnout might be that many people weren’t fully aware of what the referendums were about. Opinion polls before the vote showed that less than half of Italians knew the issues well. Also, the vote happened on the first weekend of school holidays, which might have kept some people away from the polling stations.

Political Influence and Legal Rules

The government’s position also played a role. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed opposition to the proposals and suggested that people abstain from voting. Political experts noted that the low turnout would likely prevent the referendums from being valid, as Italian referendums need a quorum – meaning over 50% of eligible voters must participate for the result to count.

Outcome: Referendums Likely Invalid

Because the turnout was so low, likely much less than the required 50% threshold, the referendums are expected to be declared invalid, making the Italy referendum low turnout a central issue in political discussions. This means the laws about citizenship and labor rights will probably not change based on this vote, despite the efforts of the unions and opposition parties who proposed the referendums.

Vocabulary

Referendum (noun): A direct vote by all eligible voters on a particular proposal or issue.
Example: The country held a referendum on whether to join the new agreement.
Labor rights (noun phrase): The legal rights of workers, such as the right to safe working conditions, fair wages, and the right to unionize.
Example: The new law aims to protect basic labor rights for all employees.
Turnout (noun): The number of people who participate in an event, especially the number of people who vote in an election or referendum.
Example: Low turnout can sometimes mean people are not interested or satisfied.
Polling stations (noun phrase): Places where people go to vote in an election or referendum.
Example: Polling stations were open all day on Sunday and Monday.
Abstain (verb): To choose not to do something, especially not to vote.
Example: Several voters decided to abstain from the election.
Quorum (noun): The minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at a meeting to make the proceedings valid.
Example: The meeting could not start because they didn’t have a quorum.
Eligible voters (noun phrase): People who have the right to vote in an election or referendum.
Example: There are over 50 million eligible voters in the country.
Invalid (adjective): Not official or legally acceptable; not valid.
Example: The contract was invalid because it wasn’t signed correctly.
Proponents (noun): People who support a plan, idea, or way of doing something.
Example: Proponents of the new law argue it will help the economy.
Severance (noun): Money paid to an employee who has been dismissed.
Example: He received a severance package after losing his job.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What were the two main topics in the Italian referendum?
What does “low turnout” mean in the context of this referendum?
Why is a quorum important for a referendum in Italy?
Besides low awareness, what other reasons contributed to the low turnout?
What is the likely consequence of the low turnout for the referendum results?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Do you think reducing the time to get citizenship is a good idea? Why or why not?
Why do you think people sometimes choose not to vote in important elections or referendums?
Should referendums require a minimum turnout (a quorum) to be valid?
How do citizenship laws in your country compare to the proposed changes in Italy?
What is the importance of labor rights for workers in any country?

Related Idiom

“Speak volumes”
Meaning: To communicate a great deal without using words, or to show something very clearly.
Example: The low turnout in the referendum speaks volumes about public interest in these issues.

📢 Want more practical tips to improve your English while learning about today’s important topics? Sign up for the All About English Mastery Newsletter!

Follow our YouTube Channel @All_About_English for more great insights and tips.

This article was inspired by: Reuters, June 8, 2025.