Municipal elections: Runoff turnout drops to around 54%, nearly 8 points below first round

Voter turnout for the runoff elections in Italian municipalities has shown a marked decline, with overall participation hovering around 54%. This figure represents a drop of nearly eight percentage points compared to the first round of voting.

Several cities reported significant decreases in voter engagement. In Chieti, the final turnout for the runoff was 55.49%, a 7% decrease from the first round. Lecco saw a slight decrease, with 59.29% of eligible voters participating, while Vigevano experienced a sharper decline, with only 45.54% casting ballots, down from 52.03% in the first round. Trani reported a turnout of 50.46%, nearly 15 points lower than the initial round. Macerata's runoff saw 54.80% turnout, down from 56.33% in the first round, and Arezzo also experienced a significant drop to 53.11%.

The polls have now closed for these runoff elections, as well as for elections in Sardinia. The vote counting process has begun, with results expected to reveal the new mayors and municipal councils in the affected areas. The lower turnout raises questions about voter engagement and the political climate in these regions.