In Italian electoral law, there are no specific restrictions on the use of nicknames in electoral lists. This was confirmed by Giorgia Meloni, who urged voters to write her first name, “Giorgia,” on the ballot for the upcoming European elections. Similarly, Elly Schlein of the Democratic Party also confirmed that voters can use her nickname, “Elly,” on the ballot in the same elections. The practice of using nicknames on the ballot has historical precedents in Italian voting, such as Marco Pannella using his first name instead of his surname. Other examples include Jas Gawronski and Giuseppe Sala, who have used their nicknames in their electoral campaigns.
However, the use of aliases on the ballot has sometimes sparked controversy. For example, Carlo Calenda and Michela Murgia faced criticism in 2021 for using aliases instead of their full names. More recent cases include Anita Sirigu in the 2024 Sardinian regional elections and candidates like Jarbas Faustino and Giovanni Luigi D’Avanzo, known by their aliases in various elections. The upcoming elections also feature candidates like Sergio De Caprio and Fulvio Martusciello, who offer voters the option to use their nicknames on the ballot.
The principle of favor votes or conservation of the vote is applied during the counting phase to ensure that a voter’s preference expressed on their ballot is favored unless there are reasons to doubt it. Nicknames are commonly used in municipal elections, especially in smaller towns where candidates may be known by their aliases. Examples include Sergio Iacomoni, Massimo Ranucci, and Laura D’Incalci.
The diverse and colorful history of Italy’s electoral landscape reflects this longstanding practice of using nicknames on the ballot. While there may be controversy surrounding some cases where candidates use aliases instead of their full names, this practice remains a significant aspect of Italian electoral law and politics.
