Five years ago, 63.3% of Piedmontese went to the polls to elect the president and the regional council. Since 2019, however, abstentionism has increasingly become the party to beat at every call to the polls. And even in this round it could make a difference in the final percentages. The confirmation of Alberto Cirio as governor does not seem to be in question, but the “non-voters” can cause shifts in volumes (therefore in political weight) between the various lists that support him. There are 50 seats in Palazzo Lascaris, as in the last legislature: forty are elected on the basis of the district lists (those of the provinces), with the proportional system, while ten come from the “list” of the winning coalition (with the majority). Of the 40 councillors, 4 are attributed to the Alessandria college, 2 each to Vercelli, Asti and Biella, 5 to Cuneo, 3 to Novara, 21 to Turin and one to the Vco. Finally, for the majority prize, the prevailing coalition will obtain 28 seats (at least 55%) if it has achieved less than 45% of the valid votes, 30 if it rises between 45 and 59% and 32 if it exceeds 60%.
The polling stations remain open today too, from 7am to 11pm. The ballot for the European elections is gray in the North West constituency, which also includes Piedmont. For the Regionals, however, it is green. And divided among the five presidential aspirants: on the left, in the order of draw, Alberto Costanzo, Francesca Frediani, Sarah Disabato and Alberto Cirio, on the right Gianna Pentenero. In the box of each one, the symbols of the constituency lists that support them appear, with the two lines on which it is possible to write as many preferences. Attention: names must alternate between men and women, respecting gender equality, otherwise only the first indication will be valid.
The voter can place a cross only on the presidential candidate, crossing out the name or mark, or a list: in this case the vote is valid for both one and the other. But at the regional elections there is also the possibility of split voting. That is, to choose an aspiring governor and, at the same time, a list that belongs to another coalition (and here also express preferences, up to two names of different genders). A complication, perhaps, but also a wider possibility of choice for citizens at the polls.
Polling stations open this evening until 11pm, then counting operations for the European elections will begin. Presidents, secretaries and scrutineers will therefore be able to take a break, to resume the counting activity tomorrow at 2pm. Starting with the Regionals, then the Municipalities that have to renew mayors and Councils.
