Com.It.Es.: Deadline November 4 for Italian-descendant voting registration

Italians and descendants registered with AIRE have until November 4, 2026 to request electoral enrollment and vote in the renewal of Com.It.Es., the committees that represent the Italian community abroad. Elections take place by year-end, and without a request filed within the deadline, voters do not receive the necessary materials to vote, according to Comunità Italiana.

What are Com.It.Es.

The Com.It.Es. (Comitati degli Italiani all'Estero) were created in 1985 and function as representation bodies for the Italian community with consulates and embassies in countries where Italian citizens reside. They act as a channel between the local community and the Italian diplomatic network, discussing topics such as consular services, culture, social assistance, and education for Italians living abroad.

Each committee has a five-year mandate and exists only in consular districts with more than 3,000 Italian citizens registered with AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad). Composition varies according to community size: committees with up to 100,000 registered Italians have 12 members, while larger communities elect 18 representatives.

The topic is part of the news coverage on the Italian diaspora tracked by Italy News, as these elections directly affect the organization of consular life in cities with strong Italian-descendant presence, as is the case in various regions of Brazil.

Deadline and how to request enrollment

Unlike Italian political elections, in which voting materials are automatically sent to all AIRE registrants, participation in Com.It.Es. depends on prior request. Those who do not file a request within the deadline do not receive the ballot and are excluded from voting.

The request must be filed by November 4, 2026 with the voter's reference consulate. In the case of the General Consulate of Italy in São Paulo, according to Comunità Italiana, the request can be made by email with the subject line "OPZIONE VOTO COMITES 2026", following guidelines issued by the consulate itself.

Each consular district may have specific submission procedures, so it is recommended that interested parties consult the website of the consulate responsible for their region to confirm the correct submission channel and required documents.

How voting works

Voting for Com.It.Es. takes place by mail, but with an additional step compared to political elections: as mentioned, the voting envelope is only sent to those who formally requested enrollment within the deadline.

To be entitled to vote, the citizen must be registered with AIRE in the corresponding consular district for at least six months. After the request is processed, the consulate sends voting materials, and the voter must complete the ballot and return it by mail, following specific instructions issued by each consulate regarding return deadlines and submission format.

Those with questions about their AIRE status—whether registered correctly, if records are outdated, or if the six-month requirement has been met—can verify their status with the consulate before requesting to vote, avoiding problems when receiving electoral materials.

Relevance for Brazilian descendants

For Brazilians who have already obtained Italian citizenship and maintain updated AIRE registration, Com.It.Es. elections represent a concrete opportunity for participation in Italian institutional life abroad. The elected committees work directly to defend community interests, preserve the memory of Italian emigration, and promote cultural and social activities among Italian-origin communities throughout Brazil.

Those who went through the process of Italian citizenship recognition and now live in Brazil as Italian citizens can, therefore, actively participate in these elections, provided their AIRE registration is current and they meet the required six-month period. The topic also connects with broader discussions about life in Italy and Italy's relationship with its communities abroad, including the large Italian-descendant presence throughout Brazilian territory.

The November 4, 2026 deadline is, therefore, the immediate point of attention for those wishing to participate: without formal request to the consulate by that date, there is no way to vote in the committee renewal.

Want to know if you are entitled to Italian citizenship? Speak with specialized advisors.

Source: Comunità Italiana