Towards a common model of expatriate voting rights? The case of Italian, Greek and Irish nationals abroad

Thls chapter examines the Italian model of expatriate voting and diasporic representation (12 deputies and 6 senators in the Italian Parliament) and the tentative steps undertaken in other diaspora populations like the Greek and the Irish to follow in the same direction. The steps which the latter two diasporas have undertaken, including the consolidation of jus sanguinis for the Irish with the referendum of 2004 and the recent constitutional changes proposed by the Greek Parliament to allow Greeks abroad to have a role in the Greek electoral process would indicate there is a commonality of approach. Put simply is the overseas Italian voting system and parliamentaty model exportable? Are we seeing the emergence of a possible common model of expatriate voting rights?