The COMITES (Comitato degli italiani all’estero, Committees of Italians Abroad) are bodies elected by Italians resident abroad that represent their needs in dealings with the consular offices.
In Switzerland they are:
represents around 144,000 fellow Italians resident in 9 cantons of German-speaking Switzerland: Zurich, Lucerne, Zug, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Glarus, Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden. The Comites of Zurich reports to the Consolato Generale d’Italia in Zurigo (Italian Consulate General in Zurich) - www.comiteszurigo.ch
Eastern Switzerland, Grisons and Liechtenstein district - www.comites-sangallo.ch
The Com.It.Es. is elected by the Italian citizens resident in the consular district of Bern and is made up of 12 members - www.comites-bernaneuchatel.ch
represents fellow Italians in the Canton of Basel - www.comites-basilea.ch
represents fellow Italians in the Cantons of Vaud and Valais - www.comites-losanna.weebly.com
www.comitesluganoticino.altervista.org
The Comites receive proposals, ideas, requests and suggestions for the development of projects of a social, cultural and sporting nature aimed at the Italian community of that place. They examine the initiatives with particular regard to social and educational assistance, vocational training, the recreational sector and leisure, also taking into account the promotion of Italian businesses operating in Switzerland. The Comites foster the integration of Italian citizens into local society and promote the spread of the Italian language, history and tradition. In addition, they cooperate with the consular authorities in protecting the rights and interests of Italian citizens resident on Swiss soil.
Voting takes place by correspondence, that is, you vote by post. Unlike the general political elections, where the electoral pack arrives automatically if you are registered with the A.I.R.E. (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero, Registry of Italians Resident Abroad), in the Comites elections you must first register on the electoral rolls at your reference consulate, filling in the relevant form by 3 November 2021.
1. Download the form
2. Fill in the form in block capitals and sign it
3. Make a copy of your Italian passport or identity card (if you are a dual citizen, the document of the other country is also valid)
4. Send the completed and signed form, together with the copy of the document, to your reference consulate (you will find the addresses below)
5. You can send it by post or by e-mail no later than 3 November 2021
6. THEN, AFTERWARDS, you will receive the ballot paper at home by post from the consulate
7. You can vote and send everything by post to your consulate by 3 December 2021
Below you can find your reference consulate in Switzerland:
Ambasciata d'Italia a Berna (Embassy of Italy in Bern)
Cancelleria Consolare (Consular Chancellery)
Willadingweg 23, 3006 Bern
Tel.: +(41) (0)31 390 10 10
E-mail: berna.elettorale@esteri.it
Consolato Generale d'Italia a Lugano (Italian Consulate General in Lugano)
Via Ferruccio Pelli 16
6901 Lugano, Switzerland
Tel.:+41 (0)91 913 30 50
Fax:+41 (0)91 923 75 78
E-mail: elettorale.lugano@esteri.it
Consolato Generale d'Italia a Zurigo (Italian Consulate General in Zurich)
Tödistrasse 65
8002 Zurich, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)44 286 61 11
Fax: +41 (0)44 201 16 11
E-mail: zurigo.elettorale@esteri.it
Consolato Generale d'Italia a Ginevra (Italian Consulate General in Geneva)
Rue Charles-Galland 14
1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)22 839 67 44
Fax: +41 (0)22 839 67 45
E-mail: consolato.ginevra@esteri.it
Consolato d'Italia a Basilea (Italian Consulate in Basel)
Schaffhauserrheinweg 5
4058 Basel, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)61 689 96 26
Fax: +41 (0)61 691 01 68
E-mail: basilea.elettorale@esteri.it
Full text of Law No. 286 of 23 October 2003: www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/03286l.htm
Full text of the implementing regulation: www.esteri.it/mae/doc/dpr395.pdf
