European elections, in Palermo 1,700 out of 2,400 scrutineers give up. In Bari the presidents desert. Taranto and Venice: reduced public transport, drivers are at the polls

Even in this electoral round, the risk that scrutineers and presidents deserting the over 61 thousand polling stations open for voting is materializing in a patchy manner, but so far without serious consequences. Among the causes there is also the salary, considered low. The Interior Ministry circular sets it at 138 euros for seat presidents […]

Even in this election cycle, the risk that is materializing patchily, but so far without serious consequences scrutineers And presidents desert the over 61 thousand polling stations open for voting. Among the causes there is also the salary, considered low. The Viminale circular sets it at 138 euros for polling station presidents and 110.40 euros for secretaries and scrutineers where voting is only for the European elections, while the compensation rises to 209.5 and 163 euros respectively where municipal elections are added or the regional ones. In Piedmont, where the European elections are combined with both the regional ones and the first round of the administrative elections, 183.50 euros are paid to presidents and 213 to secretaries and scrutineers. Money that actually tempts the employees of the public transport company who in various cities have communicated en masse that they are busy at the polls service reductions.

TO Palermo on Friday it became known that 1,700 scrutineers out of 2,400 drawn had not confirmed their presence: the fear was that the chaos recorded for the 2022 elections could be repeated, when in addition to the scrutineers, many polling station presidents were also missing. On Saturday, councilor Dario Falzone announced that all the polling station presidents were in their places, except in two sections, and some scrutineers were still missing, but the polling station can also be opened with just one member. In the next few hours the missing ones will be replaced.

TO Bari most of the chair presidents appointed by the Court of Appeal have resigned from their position. In the city, 345 sections have been set up plus a special one in via Fornari in Modugno (where only non-residents who have registered vote for the European elections) and in 200 they preferred to give up. However, the municipal offices have completed the replacements.

TO Florence there were around 900 withdrawals out of a total of 1470 scrutineers. However, when the polls opened, all the replacements had been found.

TO Taranto the problem is another: as often happens during elections, numerous employees of Kyma Mobility-Amat, the urban mobility company, 100% owned by the Municipality, will be engaged in activities related to the functioning of the polling stations: the company had already received the 106 communications from employees, 95 of whom are bus drivers, approximately 40% of the driving staff“. Result: until Tuesday 11 June, when it will have to make up for the periodic rest not enjoyed on Sunday by the staff who carried out activities at the polling stations, the company “will not be able to guarantee the complete carrying out of the ordinary scheduled services of urban and suburban public transport”. Same situation a Venice where public transport services will be remodeled because around 200 employees of theActv they are busy with the elections.