PASQUALE SCARAMOZZINO

L'uso della preferenza unica nelle elezioni regionali (1995-2005)

209

Maggio-Agosto 2005

Anno LXX    n. 2

Summary – This paper examines the preferences over candidates expressed by voters in the last three regional Italian elections (1995, 2000, 2005). In these elections, voters were asked to express a single preference, as opposed to the multiple preferences allowed until 1990. The introduction of single preferences voting from 1995 onward had the effect of reducing the number of preferences expressed in 1995, and then increasing it in the subsequent regional elections of 2000 and 2005. The preference rate (that is, the percentage relation between preferences expressed and preferences allowed) dropped at first from 29% in 1990 to 25,2 in 1995, and then increased to 44,3 in 2000 and to 51,7 in 2005, thus doubling the 1995 figure. As far as electoral behaviour in the various geographical regions is concerned, the results of the analysis show to be an increase everywhere in the preference rate and confirm that voters’ tendencies to make use of the preference vote varies, for a number of reasons (among which the different subcultures of the various areas), depending on both the region and the list voted for. The remains a North-South divide, which, however, is less significant than in 1995. In the case of all list, there is a tendency for preferences to be disturbed unevely among the candidates, given the greater attraction of certain candidates (nearly always those at the top of a list).