On March 22 and 23, 2026, Italian citizens were called to the polls to cast their votes in a confirmatory referendum on judicial reform, which aimed to amend constitutional provisions concerning judicial efficiency, the separation of judicial careers, and the accountability of judges. Specifically, the referendum question concerned Articles 87, paragraph 10; 102; 104; 105; 106, paragraph 3; 107, paragraph 1; and 110, paragraph 1. 

Since this was a constitutional referendum, no quorum was required: the validity of the result depended solely on a majority of the votes cast.

The referendum resulted in a victory for the “no” vote, which received 53.75% of the total votes, compared to 46.25% of voters who cast their ballots for “yes.” The result thus led to the rejection of the proposed reform.

One figure that deserves particular attention is voter turnout: compared to referendums in recent years, which were marked by high abstention rates, turnout in this case was relatively high, with over 27 million voters participating. Despite the complexity of the issue, voter turnout was significant, highlighting widespread engagement among the electorate.

From a geographical perspective, the result reflects the political and institutional differences across the country’s various regions: in most regions, the “no” vote prevailed, with Campania being the region where this preference accounted for 65.23% of the votes; while the “yes” vote was more successful in the North, achieving a majority only in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (54.47%), Veneto (58.40%) and Lombardia (53.56%).

The prevalence of the “no” vote highlights a widespread sentiment among voters, despite significant differences between regions.

Overall, the referendum represented a significant moment of democratic participation, in which voters expressed their views on a far-reaching constitutional reform. The outcome suggests an uneven distribution of popular support, attributable to various factors, including differing levels of information regarding the subject of the reform and the varying priorities perceived by the electorate. Beyond regional differences in voter turnout and voting preferences, the outcome of the referendum revealed an overall level of active participation significantly higher than in recent years, highlighting a renewed interest among citizens in constitutional changes. 

In conclusion, the referendum demonstrated the centrality of the popular vote in decision-making processes and the fundamental role of citizens in democratic legitimacy.