Lombardy Regions, the indications of the Municipality of Milan for the vote of transgender people: “No to separate lines in males and females”

It is a theme that has been returning to every election for some years: the methods of access to polling stations for voters which provide for separate registers for voters and electors and, consequently, also separate lines outside the school hall transformed into a section. A modality contested by transgender people, who have documents referring to the so-called “assigned at birth” sex that do not yet correspond to the sex of choice, i.e. the gender identity in which one recognizes oneself. The Municipality of Milan – which will soon have a register alias of the Anagrafe – has decided to do something, within the limits established by law, to promote an inclusive vote: in fact, with a video, it tells how it is raising awareness of polling station presidents and tellers for ” ensure that each person, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or origin, is allowed to exercise this right in complete serenity” in the upcoming regional elections of 12 and 13 February.

The video, made in collaboration with Arcigay with activist Alec Sebastian D’Auleriocontains an indication to polling station presidents to distribute voters and electorates in a single file on election day, instead of dividing them into differentiated rows based on female and male genders. Because the practice of dividing voters into two lines based on gender – explains the Municipality – “has been contested for several years because it discriminates and harms transgender and non-binary people. Getting in line based on the gender assigned at birth forces, in cases where it does not correspond to one’s identity or gender expression, to forced coming outs which can lead to situations of embarrassment or disgust, due to which many people are led to choose to give up the vote”.

And therefore: no to the two separate lines, registers for men and women close together – usually instead they are positioned facing each other with the chair in the center which is used for the polls and for the president – and identification of the people only when the turn “opting for a non-discriminatory method that is more respectful of everyone’s gender identity. An initiative in line with the motion “Measures aimed at promoting the inclusion and citizenship of transgender people”, approved by the City Council in May of last year”.

Another video with Joseph Arconzo, delegate for accessibility policies of the Municipality of Milan, draws attention to the issue of voting reserved for those voters and electricians unable to vote independently and their right to be assisted in the booth by a companion. Finally, a video dedicated to voting procedures and the instructions to follow for correct verbalization of the illustrated ballots by the deputy general secretary of the Municipality Andrea Zuccotti.

The Municipality recalls that it is still possible to apply to play the role of chairman of the polling station and scrutineer: the Municipality of Milan invites those who are interested to go directly to the Electoral Office in via Messina 52 to give their availability and obtain the direct appointment .

Remember the councilor for civic and general services Gaia Romans: “In just over a year we have had three electoral appointments, which have required considerable efforts from the entire organizational machine of the Municipality. Three challenges which have also allowed us, however, to touch firsthand which aspects were to be improved and made more efficient And first of all, in fact, we wanted to intervene so that the right to vote was guaranteed, in the utmost serenity, to every person. Unfortunately, the division by gender based on a binary system of electoral registers, envisaged by a state law, does not allow us to intervene further. But with this initiative, we try to take a step forward and give an answer to the many realities and associations that have been carrying out awareness-raising actions for years, denouncing a discriminatory rule and not at all respectful of transgender and non-binary people”.