Le European elections of 8 and 9 June they get closer, the vote from outside the office it is the prerogative of a few and thousands of voters are preparing to return to your residence to exercise their right to vote. As per tradition, the Ministry of the Interior, with the circular n.49, illustrated the tariff concessions for rail, sea, motorway and air travel from which voters will be able to benefit in relation to the June 2024 electoral round. Those who have to return home, in fact, will be able to have access to discounts on trains, planes, ferries and highways. But only under certain conditions and respecting certain rules. Here is all the information.
European elections: Trenitalia discounts
Let's start with the trains. Travelers who want to return home by train will be able to take advantage of discounts to reach their electoral headquarters.
For residents in Italy, in fact, Trenitalia predicted:
- a 70% discount on the base price tickets for Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity and IntercityNotte including sleeper service;
- a 60% discount on regional train tickets.
The reduction applies to both outward and return journeys, provided they are made in second class and for the Standard service level.
The outward journey can be made from the tenth day before the voting day (inclusive) and the return journey up to midnight of the tenth day following the voting day (the latter excluded). In any case, the outward journey must be completed by the closing time of voting operations and the return journey cannot begin until after the opening of the polling station.
Also expected discounts for residents abroad (Italian Elector fare valid for international travel to/from Italy on board Italy-Switzerland Eurocity trains).
Tickets can be purchased at ticket offices, authorized travel agencies, Trenitalia website and App. Those who purchase on the site and App will have to click on the "see other offers" button and select the "Voters" offer.
To take advantage of the reductions, voters will have to show identity document and electoral card both at ticket offices and authorized travel agencies and to on-board staff. “If you do not have a voter card for the outward journey the voter, to obtain the reduction, in case of purchase at ticket offices and authorized travel agencies, must sign a substitute declaration and present it on board, or, in the case of purchase on digital channels, enter the voter card number or the self-certification "flag". In any case, for the return trip the voter will have to show, in addition to the return tickets, the duly endorsed electoral card or, failing that, a specific declaration issued by the president of the polling station certifying that the vote has taken place", explains Trenitalia.
European elections 2024: Italo discounts
Those traveling with Italo will also be entitled to a discount. In this case the reduction will be 60% on the price of a ticket purchased on the company website from 23 April to 9 June in the Economy or Flex fare and in the Smart environment. The outward journey must take place between 30 May and 9 June, the return journey between 8 and 19 June.
To purchase your discounted ticket you need to go to the Italo website, click on “buy with elections discount”, choose the route and travel date, then proceed with booking as usual. The discount is applied directly to the rate.
Also in this case, on the outward journey you must show a valid identity document and your electoral card (or substitute declaration) while on the return journey you must show a valid identity document and the electoral card bearing the certification of the vote.
European elections: Ita Airways discounts
Ita Airways offers those who travel by plane a discount of 40 euros on the plane ticket valid for a domestic flight, round trip. The discount, which can also be used for bookings containing multiple passengers, is not added to other discounts already in force and does not apply to codeshare flights and flights in territorial continuity.
The discounted ticket can be purchased exclusively through booking form present on the site, subject to acceptance of analytical cookies and allowing pop-ups to open in your browser settings. Upon check-in and boarding the passenger will be asked to show their voter ID card. If the voter does not have one for the outward journey, it will be necessary to sign a substitute declaration to be presented to the airport staff. Upon return, the passenger must show their electoral card duly stamped and dated by the Electoral Section, thus proving that the vote has taken place.
The discount is valid on flights operated by Ita Airways to fly: on the outward journey from 2 to 9 June 2024 and on the return journey from 8 to 16 June 2024.
Discounts for those traveling at sea and on the motorway
A discounted rate is available with s60% account also for those who travel via the shipping companies Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione, Grimaldi Euromed, Società Navigazione Siciliana, and NLG – Navigazione Libera del Golfo.
For those who must return to their electoral headquarters by car, the Italian Association of Motorway and Tunnel Concessionaires (AISCAT) has announced that the motorway concessionaires will comply with the request for exemption from toll payment on the entire national network, with the exception of motorways controlled with an "open" exemption system, to Italian voters residing abroad both for the journey to the polling station and for the return journey.
The exemption will be valid from 22.00 pm on the fifth day before the voting and, for the day of return, from the day of the voting operations until 22.00 pm on the fifth day following the conclusion of the operations themselves.
