Separation of careers, High Disciplinary Court, no quorum: everything you need to know about the referendum on March 22-23

Italians will be called to the polls on Sunday, March 22 and Monday, March 23 for the constitutional referendum on the justice reform. The measure intervenes in the organization of the judiciary, introducing, among other things, the separation of careers between judges and public prosecutors and the establishment of a new High Disciplinary Court.

The consultation will take place over two days, as established by the election decree that confirmed the double date. Polling stations will be open on Sunday from 7 AM to 11 PM and will reopen on Monday from 7 AM to 3 PM; the counting will begin thereafter.

The electorate consists of about 50 million eligible voters, including about 5 million students and workers who live permanently away from their municipality of residence.

A controversy has arisen between the majority and the opposition regarding the vote of those away from home: the government did not include them in the decree that defined the election day, despite previous experiments in recent elections. As for Italians abroad, those registered with the Aire, “the registry of Italians residing abroad,” will be able to vote regularly by mail. Since this is a confirmative referendum, there is no participation quorum required.