Astonishing Voter Turn out in Italy's 2011 Referendum

On Sunday June 12^th until Monday June 13^th, polls opened in local schools across Italy for its citizens to vote on the 2011 referendum. A referendum of its type, abrogative, had not been passed since 1995 and any referendum had not passed here since 2006, because of lack of participation on the voter’s part. 

The votes will not be counted unless 50% + one of the citizens who have the right to vote go to the poll and vote, and if more than half the population votes then they will look at their votes.  More than 57% of the population voted and about 95% of them all voted to abolish the laws that had recently been set in place by the government and go back to the older, more traditional laws. The issues were privatization of water, use of nuclear energy, and the necessity of politician’s presence in court. 

Water, once a public commodity, but now about half and half owned by private owners and the nation, was voted to be only publicly owned because Italians believe that water is not a good, it is a basic human need and therefore everyone should receive it for the same cost, which does not always under private ownership. 

Nuclear energy in Italy was abolished by a referendum in 1987 after Chernobyl happened in 1986 but recently, as a way to revive the economy, Berlusconi (Italians Prime Minister) re-introduced nuclear energy. Those who voted in the referendum said that they had already voted no and had never decided that it was ok again, especially right after the crisis in Japan, and wanted Italy to take no part in nuclear energy. 

Finally, voters refuted the loosening of requirements for the necessity of politician’s presence in court during their trial and a return to the more strict rules. Opposers of Berlusconi made a strong point that they believed the loopholes in the attendance policy for politicians in court was working in his favor since he has had many court trials that he has not been present for. 

The best news is that with 57% of the population voting, this historical moment is the revival of social and political participation and pride for Italians at home and abroad!