There are lots of Italian students going abroad every year to study or for apprenticeship experience; the majority of them take part in the Erasmus Project. 
The most recent statistical data shows that 22,015 Italians between the ages of 20 and 24 took part in the Erasmus project during the 2010-2011 academic year, with an average stay of over six months.
How can all these young people vote for the upcoming general elections for the Italian Parliament (24th and 25th of February)? From a practical point of view they are unable to vote.
The only way to vote is go back to Italy at their own expense, missing hours of class, money and maybe opportunities. In order to vote, Italian citizens abroad have to be registered to the AIRE (Registry of Italians living abroad). To get the registration to the AIRE you must provide proof that you have been a resident for at least 12 months in the new Country.
The inconvenience of the impossibility to vote from abroad is not limited to Erasmus students. The numbers of Italians abroad for professional reasons, apprenticeships, internships with foreign companies, scholarships and doctoral degrees are quite consistent. Most of these emigrants, especially young people without experience, cannot have assurances about their future (the contracts are almost exclusively short-term).
In most cases this precarious condition transcends the individual will, so why should these people should have limitations on their right to vote? A convincing answer, unfortunately does not exist and the situation is grotesque in the digital and cosmopolitan modern World.
Despite this, the passionate young people do not give up. All over Europe Erasmus students are organizing the “facsimile” elections to allow a symbolic gesture to anyone who has clashed with the flaws of bureaucracy.
Ireland, with its average of 5000 Erasmus students hosted each year (about 300 of them coming from Italy), will not be outdone. Italian students in Dublin and Cork are preparing for the elections in their own way.
On Facebook two events have been set up in relation to this issue: “Elezioni Italiane 2013 – Dublino” and “Elezioni Italiane a Cork.” To push forward with this initiative anyone interested is invited to join the groups.
The coordinator of the organizing group in Dublin is Federica Pennacchioni, Erasmus student from Ancona (central Italy) who is going to spend 10 months in the capital. “Our polling stations will be provided with computers to facilitate the online voting process” she says. “All voters will anonymously make their choice. We will collect personal data on a list. At the end of the day, the votes will be counted to calculate the percentage of preference.”
Francesca Sabattini, 24 year old student from Carpi, in Emilia region, coordinates organizing group in Cork City. She says “here we will organize a real polling station, most likely it will be set up in the centre so that not only the students (and not only the Italians) can see what we will do “.
Facsimile ballot papers will be then printed and collected in a ballot box.
Francesca also describes the international concern of the project, “by the beginning of January a movement was born to underline the will of Italians living abroad to vote. This gave rise to the creation of a Facebook group (Elezioni Italiane all’estero 24/25 Febbraio) which started to promote the initiative. In many European cities a mass mobilization commenced with the ultimate goal of setting up the polling stations. ”
Federica explains about the results of these symbolic elections: “When the individual seats of each city will have their own results, they will be posted on the European Facebook Group, in order to get an overall percentage of those who are not allowed to vote. ”
But what are the Italian students’ feelings about this situation?
“The fact of being deprived of this right is frustrating,” said Federica. “We feel cheated by the institutions: the Erasmus, Erasmus Placement, Leonardo, etc. were born a long time ago (the LLP Erasmus program celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012). Especially we don’t understand the fact that a bill was approved at the last moment to allow only professors, researchers and soldiers abroad the right to vote. Rather than include specific categories, it was not possible to include all the Italians abroad?”
Francesca says “we have various feelings: disappointment and the perception that ours is not a Country for young people. Basically what we want to be understood, and we’re going all out, is that we want to choose our future. We believe that our votes could make a difference.”
In this World of laughable political promises, investigations and processes, insults and provocations broadcasted by national televisions, we could maybe rediscover the healthy side of politics in the energy of these students.
The authentic side of politics, lost in the past, that was born from the passion and cooperation of citizens. Commitment shared by those who can spend effort and money (the “facsimile elections” will be completely self-managed) without selfish advantages.
Why should soldiers be granted the right to vote and students not be afforded the same right? Why should students be considered less important?
My wish for all young organizers and participants is that the echo of this beautiful initiative can resonate loudly and that something will change soon.
Luca Cattaneo
