On not voting

Some may be wondering if or how I myself voted in the Fidenza elections of a few days ago. The answer is that I didn't, because unfortunately I couldn't. Although I am an Italian citizen, and therefore entitled to vote (even though I'm also a citizen of the USA), currently I can't vote here in Fidenza, much as I would have liked to.

In Italy citizenship is arranged around one's comune, one's home town, which is defined as where you were born or, if you move, where you reside. My comune is Montagano, the tiny village down south in Molise where my Italian "blood" and that of my children was legally recognized two summers ago. In effect, I was born as an Italian there, and now it is my comune, even though I live in California and (slightly less than half the year) up north here in Emilia-Romagna. And because my legal residence is still California, as far as Italy's concerned I'm a Montaganesa who's registered as living overseas.

Montagano and a fellow Montaganesa

Now as an overseas Italian I ought to have been able to vote (by mail) in the European Parliamentary elections that also took place this week. I wasn't paying attention to all this back at the beginning of the year, at which time, as I understand it, the Italian consulate in San Francisco should have sent me my ballot. But no ballot ever arrived, and I didn't notice, so I lost my chance to vote from abroad.

Alternately, I could have gone to my home comune last week and voted there, both for the European Parliament and the Montagano mayor. In fact, a month before the election Montagano sent me a postcard reminding me that I could come and vote. It was sent regular mail and arrived in California about three days before the election, so a little late to make travel plans, even from within Italy. Anyway, the nine-hour trip from Fidenza didn't seem worth it. I am civic-minded, but not quite to that degree.

As a result, I was unable to do anything but watch from the sidelines and wring my hands. It surprised me how much not voting bothered me. It seemed anti-social, like littering or spitting in the street. I want to be a good citizen, in both my countries.

A Fidenza street, where I do not spit.