Resolution criteria

The referendum asks voters to approve the constitutional reforms passed by the Italian parliament. Voting YES approves the constitutional reform; voting NO rejects it. There is no turnout quorum—a simple majority of valid votes decides. Results will be available from the Italian Ministry of Interior at https://www.interno.gov.it/ following the close of polls on March 23, 2026.

Background

The reform proposes structural reorganization of the judiciary through separation of career paths between judges and prosecutors, establishing distinct career tracks that would require an initial choice at the outset of a career and remove the capacity to switch roles thereafter. The reform also splits the High Council of the Magistracy into two distinct bodies, strips them of disciplinary functions by creating a new High Disciplinary Court, and introduces appointment by sortition for members of these bodies. Despite parliamentary approval, the reform did not achieve the two-thirds majority required for automatic constitutional ratification.

Considerations

Italian constitutional referendums can have political effects extending beyond the legal text—the 2016 referendum saw Prime Minister Matteo Renzi personalize the campaign, lose the vote, and resign shortly after. However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has insisted the referendum is a vote on constitutional reform, not a plebiscite on the government, reducing the likelihood of an immediate resignation-style outcome. The reform comes against heightened tensions between Meloni and the judiciary following court refusals to authorize a Sicily-mainland bridge project and ongoing disputes over the Italy-Albania migrant deal.

This description was generated by AI.