PADUA – Eight mayoral candidates have already defeated their first opponent in these local elections: the quorum structural, i.e. the need for at least the 40% of those entitled. But to really celebrate the aspiring mayors who ran alone will still have to wait for today’s counting, which will start at 2 pm, to see if their single list will have overcome the second obstacle, i.e. the functional quorum: they must obtain at least 50% of the votes valid votes.
In fact, in all eight municipalities, already at 7pm, the 40% hurdle was overcome: Arre, Candiana, Masi, Massanzago, Piacenza d’Adige, Sant’Elena, Urbana, Villa del Conte. Breathing a first sigh of relief, respectively, Michele Teobaldo, Luca Mafrin, Cosimo Galassini, Sabrina Schiavon, Primo Magri, Valentina Businarolo, Michele Danielli and Antonella Argenti. Now come on candidates it is enough to exceed 50% plus one of the valid votes to wear the tricolor sash.
IN THE CITY
As regards the European elections, turnout is in sharp decline: in 2019 it stood at 67%, yesterday just before midnight the data was still incomplete but still stuck at 56%.
In Padua the voting operations took place regularly and the new provision wanted by the Municipality which provided for the abolition of queues divided between men and women to access the polls did not have any particular consequences. A distinction that, according to the administration, created discomfort for people in transition. Hence the single file decision. «At the polling stations we recorded a continuous coming and going of voters, but real queues did not form in front of the sections – explained the councilor for registry services Francesca Benciolini in the evening – Consequently, in general, there was no need to apply the new rule. In all cases, we do not intend to register any complaints of any kind.”
THE ENTHUSIASM
Yesterday Benciolini also wanted to talk about a scene which was set in the background by a polling station in Chiesanuova. «A lady of foreign origin enters and she carries her identity card and electoral card tightly in her hands and she proudly expresses “it’s my first time”. She was a little awkward, she didn’t know what she had to do, how it worked, where she had to go so much so that they immediately realized that she had the wrong section.”
«And so she was accompanied to the right section, the councilor said on social media – Evidently she is discovering the beauty of democracy and feeling part of a community. It was a scrutineer who told me everything. I think that each person comes to the polls with their own story, their experiences, their expectations, their visions of them. This is the beauty of democracy: that it is built through the contribution of each person. Those who have never voted or cannot vote know the difference well. And perhaps his contribution is also to make us see what we have and not take it for granted.”
IN THE PROVINCE
Voting operations were also regular in the other polling stations distributed throughout the province (there are 892 in total).
Between Saturday and yesterday, 763,765 voters were called to renew the European Parliament and 52 municipalities at provincial level. Of these eligible beneficiaries, 372,555 are men and 391,210. In Padua alone, 160,610 people were called to vote.
THE NUMBERS
Within the “provincial electoral body” 275 thousand voters were also called to vote in the administrative elections (52 Municipalities are up for renewal). There were four municipalities voting which can count on more than 15 thousand inhabitants.
Municipalities which, in the event that one of the candidates does not exceed 50% of the votes, would be forced to go to a run-off on 23 and 24 June. These are Cadoneghe, Monselice, Selvazzano inside and Rubano. For the other 48 the response will arrive this afternoon when the administrative ballots will be scrutinized starting from 2pm. Today will be a long day of waiting, toasts and disappointments.
