The challenges and dilemmas embedded in the expatriate vote: the case study of Italians overseas

The Italian expatriate vote provides an excellent test case for studying one country's implementation of full voting rights and parliamentary representation to expatriates living abroad. This paper seeks to highlight the challenges and dilemmas embedded in the Italian expatriate vote, which regards the overseas electorate realtionship with homeland politics. Over the last few years, the Italian expatriate vote has been facing procedural, normative and political issues. What may have been initially seen as a democratic right may well be cast aside in the near future.