The European elections of 26 May they get closer and for those who live far from home the question is always the same: go home to vote, or not? Often non-residents are forced to face huge expenses in order to participate in the elections. Figures, sometimes prohibitive, which act as a deterrent, prompting many to give up and increase the - already very high - percentages of abstention.
In this regard however, many do not know that By law there are tariff concessions which allow you to take advantage of discounts and following the best practices for those who go home to vote and involving planes, trains, highways. Let's see them one by one.
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: DISCOUNTS FOR THOSE TRAVELING BY TRAIN
Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord apply discounts to travelers who get on their trains to go home to vote. In detail Trenitalia he informs that: “voters who reach the seat of the polling station in which they are registered by train will be able to obtain a discount, exclusively for round trips, in the Standard level of the Frecce and in second class on the other trains. The "Elector's Travel" concession provides for a 70% reduction on the Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity, Intercity Notte and couchette trains on the Base ticket price. For regional trains there is a 60% reduction on the ticket price.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices or authorized agencies.
There are some dates to respect: the outward journey must be made from 17 May onwards, the return journey by 5 June. Voters who want to take advantage of the reductions will have to show their identity document and electoral card (or substitute declaration for the outward journey) at the ticket offices and authorized agencies. Upon return, the aforementioned card must obviously be stamped.
For those returning home from abroad, the rate is available “Italian Elector” (international travel to and from Italy with discounts of around 70%)
Let's move on to Italian. Voters who decide to travel with Italo will be able to take advantage of a 60% discount on train tickets. Also in this case the outward journey must take place on a date between 17/05 and 26/05, while the return journey must take place on a date between 26/05 and 05/06.
Tickets can be purchased online. On the Italian official site there is in fact the button "Buy with election discount". Alternatively you call Pronto Italo on 060708 or contact Italo station ticket offices.
"On the occasion of the return journey - underlines the company - for the ticket to be valid, the identity document and the electoral card with the stamp of the occurred vote must necessarily be shown".
Same rules and 60% discount for Trenord. The discounts will apply to second class tickets, except for the Malpensa Express route.
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: DISCOUNTS FOR THOSE TRAVELING BY PLANE
Only Alitalia provides discounts for those who decide to go home to vote. In this case, the company has established a 40 euro discount on the return ticket price.
“The discount – underlines the company – can only be used for bookings containing only 1 adult passenger. For bookings with multiple adult passengers, it is possible to take advantage of the discount by making separate purchases for each passenger".
Interested travelers can purchase tickets until 26st May to leave between May 18 and May 26 and come back from the 26 May to the 2 June.
At check-in and boarding the passenger will simply be asked to show your electoral card (or a substitute declaration only on the way out). Tickets can be purchased on the Alitalia website.
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: DISCOUNTS FOR THOSE TRAVELING BY SEA
Tirrenia provides for a 60% reduction on the “ordinary rate”. "The authorized ticket offices will always apply the relative "resident rate" to the tickets of voters who are entitled to the discounted rate as residents, unless the "voter rate" is more advantageous," underlines the company.
The discount is valid on first and second class tickets (seats, cabins, deck passage), for a total period of twenty days and is granted upon presentation of electoral documentation and an identity document. On the return journey, the stamped electoral card must be presented.
Even society Charon (which connects Sicily) will apply the same discount and the same rules.
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: HIGHWAY DISCOUNTS
Free toll on the entire national network, both outward and return journeys, only for voters residing abroad. At the toll booth, the electoral card must be shown or, failing that, a postcard sent by the municipality of electoral registration or a declaration from the consular authority certifying that the person is going to Italy to vote and an identification document. Upon return, in addition to the passport or other equivalent document, the electoral card bearing the stamp of the section in which they voted must be shown. The concessions will be granted, for the outward journey, from 22 pm on the fifth day before the start of the voting operations and, for the return journey, until 22 pm on the fifth day following the closing day of the voting operations. vote.
