1999 Italian referendum

An abrogative referendum on the electoral law was held in Italy on 18 April 1999.^[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of replacing the mixed-member proportional representation electoral system (in which 75% of seats in Parliament were elected in single-member constituencies and 25% by compensatory proportional representation) with one based solely on single-member constituencies, with the 25% of seats instead allocated to the second-placed in the constituencies with the most votes.^[2] The proposal was supported by larger parties, but opposed by smaller ones.^[2] Although the proposal was approved by 92% of voters, turnout was only 49.58% (i.e., just over 200,000 voters below the threshold), resulting in the referendum being invalidated as the threshold of 50% was not passed.^[3]

1999 Italian referendum

18 April 1999
Abolition of mixed-member proportional representation for 25% of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Outcome	Proposal failed as voter turnout was below 50%
Results
Choice Votes  % Yes 21,161,866 91.52% No 1,960,022 8.48% Valid votes 23,121,888 94.58% Invalid or blank votes 1,325,633 5.42% Total votes 24,447,521 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 49,309,060 49.58%

Results

Choice		Votes	%
For		21,161,866	91.52
Against		1,960,022	8.48
Total		23,121,888	100.00
Valid votes		23,121,888	94.58
Invalid/blank votes		1,325,633	5.42
Total votes		24,447,521	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		49,309,060	49.58
Source: Ministry of the Interior