Referendum 2026: When is the vote on the Justice referendum? Dates, timings, and how to vote

Here we are. After months of watercooler chatter, heated debates inside the halls of power, and protests outside courthouses, the big day is just around the corner. If you've also been wondering when the referendum vote is, grab a red marker and mark these dates on your calendar: voting will take place on Sunday, March 22, and Monday, March 23, 2026.

I know, voting on a Monday seems a bit odd, but it also happened for the last European elections. They stretched the voting period to give everyone a chance to have their say, especially since this is a pretty significant constitutional reform we're talking about. On Sunday, polls are open from 7 AM to 11 PM, and on Monday from 7 AM to 3 PM. So, if you have an early start on Monday, you can actually swing by the polling booth before heading to the office. Convenient, right?

And while we're at it, let's skip the boring technical jargon: today, let's chat about it like we're catching up over a cup of chai, starting with a memory that came back to me reading the headlines these days.

When voting becomes history: From South Sudan to Italy

Whenever I hear about a referendum, my mind flashes back to 2011. I was glued to the TV following the 2011 South Sudanese independence referendum. Serious stuff, one of those moments where a simple mark on a ballot paper can literally redraw the world map. Nearly 4 million South Sudanese, after decades of civil war, turned up at polling stations from January 9 to 15. The result? A landslide: 98.83% voted for independence. The birth certificate of a nation.

Now, our referendum certainly won't create a new country, but in its own way, it seeks to revolutionise a part of the Constitution that matters to everyone: Justice. That's why, when it comes to voting in this referendum, you can't just take it lightly.

What changes if Yes (or No) wins

I won't pretend to be a professor here, but just so you understand what we'll be marking on that light green ballot paper: the reform introduces the separation of careers for judges and public prosecutors. In plain English: those who judge and those who prosecute will follow two distinct paths, with two separate Higher Councils of the Judiciary. Members won't just be elected by judicial factions anymore; some will also be chosen by lot to prevent those infamous "old boys' networks."

It also establishes a new High Court for disciplinary proceedings. In short, a major overhaul. Supporters of the Yes vote talk about more impartial and rights-oriented judges, as Arturo Parisi also highlighted recently. Those campaigning for No, on the other hand, warn of "sheriff-like prosecutors" and administrative costs that would double (estimates suggest an extra 50 million euros a year).

The practical guide to voting: documents and tips

Let's get down to brass tacks. To vote, you need your electoral card. You know, that old one you usually keep in your wallet along with your supermarket bills. If it's run out of space for stamps or you've lost it, don't panic: your local municipality's electoral office remains open with extended hours. On the days before the vote (Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21) from 9 AM to 6 PM, and throughout the voting hours on election days. Just bring an ID, and they'll issue a duplicate in two minutes flat.

Pay attention to these details so you don't end up in a fix:

• ID: Your voter ID card, driver's license, or passport works. As long as it has your photo and is valid.
• Pencil: Forget your pen. At the polling station, they'll give you a special crayon, the one that leaves a permanent mark.
• Assisted voting: If you have mobility or vision issues, you can be accompanied by another voter. No one can accompany more than one person with a disability.

Italians abroad? Here's what to do

For our compatriots outside the country, the process is different. Those registered with AIRE (the registry of Italians residing abroad) will receive the electoral package directly at home, containing the ballot paper and a pre-paid envelope. They must mail it back by 4 PM on March 19 (local time) to the relevant consular office.

For those temporarily abroad for work, study, or medical treatment (for at least three months), they needed to have submitted a request by last February 18. If you did, keep an eye on your mailbox: the package will be delivered straight there.

No excuses: No minimum turnout required

I know many people think: "If I don't go, it won't pass anyway." But that's not the case here: for constitutional referendums, there is no minimum turnout requirement (quorum). The side with the most votes, Yes or No, wins, regardless of how many people actually vote. In other words: if you stay home, others decide for you. And since we're talking about changing the Constitution, it's probably worth making a trip to the polling booth, even just to mark your preferred choice.

So, between a round of cards and your Sunday outing, carve out half an hour. The future of the Italian justice system is also in your hands. And at the office or the chai stall the next day, you'll be the only ones who can say "I was there" and actually know what you're talking about.