Technologies allow you to exercise some citizenship rights in a simpler and more appropriate way to the times we live in.
First, institutions must encourage the use of new technologies for promote greater citizen participation to the democratic process and to facilitate the exercise of political and civil rights.
To guarantee the right to electronic democratic participation, administrations must favor the opening of decision-making processes to citizens, for example, by submitting to telematic consultation the drafts of their provisions.
The objective of introducing forms of preventive consultation electronically on the forms of action to be adopted, in addition to encouraging participation, is also to improve the quality of the same through the suggestions received from citizens and civil society organizations. In a democracy, in fact, no one has a monopoly on good ideas.
Contrary to other countries in Italy – so far – they have not started petition portal experiments, tools through which citizens can ask the Government and Parliament to express themselves on specific issues. However, it is possible, as European citizens, to petition the European Parliament.
Recently, the possibility of using electronic signatures and Spid to exercise the rights of direct democracy provided for by the Constitution: support an abrogative referendum and adhere to a popular initiative bill.
At the moment, it is not possible to exercise electronically the right to vote the technological solutions tested up to now are not safe and reliable.
Against which subjects can the right be exercised?
- public administrations (e.g. municipalities, provinces, regions, ministries, local health authorities, schools, universities, professional associations, port system authorities, independent administrative authorities)
- Parliament
What can be done with online public services?
- propose suggestions for the integration or modification of draft documents in consultation
- sign to support a referendum
- sign for the introduction of a popular initiative law
to know more
The standard
Articles 71, 75, 132 and 138 of the Constitution
Article 9 of the Digital Administration Code
Art. 1, paragraph 341 of Law no. 178 of 2020
Directive n. 2/2017 – Guidelines on public consultation in Italy
The instruments
Spid – how to activate digital identity to exercise your rights
Participate – the government platform dedicated to participation processes
Consultazione.gov.it – the access point to discover public consultations in Italy
EU petitions portal
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If you have any questions or want to report a case of denied digital rights, write to [email protected] or send a whatsapp message to 393472794359.