Voting took place on Sunday and Monday, at the same time as local and regional elections were held.
Voters were asked whether to approve an amendment to the Italian Constitution, which would reduce the number of MPs in parliament from 630 to 400 in the Chamber of Deputies, and from 315 to 200 in the Senate.
The “yes” vote prevailed with 69.64 per cent, compared to 30.36 per cent for the “no” vote, with almost all votes counted, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
The two-day vote went ahead despite a threatened resurgence of the coronavirus in Italy, which was the first country in Europe to go into lockdown and is now registering more than 1500 new cases daily.
Almost 54 per cent of eligible Italians turned out to vote.
The “yes” vote, supported by the coalition government which includes the Democratic Party (PD) and the Five Star Movement (M5S), confirmed a constitutional amendment already voted by the parliament.
The government claim the move will reduce costs.
However, critics argue the amendment will weaken the authority of parliament and deliver minimal cost-saving benefits.
The amendment will take effect in 2023 before the next national election.
