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Italy’s 18th general election since 1948 takes place on Sunday March 4, less than three months after President Sergio Matarella dissolved Parliament on December 28. Today, Italians will head to the polls to cast their ballots for the 945 member Parliament, between 7am and 11pm local time (6am and 10pm GMT). The people will simultaneously cast their votes for the 630 member lower chamber, known as the Camera dei Deuptati, and the 315 member Senate, known as the Camera del Senato. The first exit polls should be published immediately after polls close at 11pm local time but votes are not expected to be fully counted until around 2pm on Monday local time (1pm GMT). Approxmately 50.7 million Italians are eligible to vote in today’s election. Here is the latest on the Italian Election 2018 as polls open. All times in GMT.

Monday, March 5 This live blog has now ended. Click here for all the latest updates of the Italian election 2018 live results 2:41am: Centre-right coalition set to win most seats According to pollster SWG: According to pollster SWG: Centre-Right (Berlusconi's coalition) - 127-147 seats 5 Star - 95-115 Seats Center-Left (Renzi & allies) - 50-70 seats 1:39am: Seat projection sees 5-star take 102-122 seats. Italy's Senate seat projection based on actual vote count sees 5-Star taking 102-122 seats. But 158 are needed for a majority. 12:40am: Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement set to be biggest party The 5-Star Movement is on track to win 34.1 percent of the vote in the lower house chamber of deputies from Sunday's national election, according to an initial projection based on early vote counting. The projection by pollsters Tecne for the Mediaset TV channel, which is based on a count of a sample of votes, gave a centre-right coalition 34.8 percent. Within the coalition, the anti-immigrant League was seen leading, with 15.8 percent, ahead of its right-wing ally, former premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia, which was projected to get 13.9 percent. The ruling Democratic Party was projected to get 18.1 percent in the lower house. 12:40am: Matthew Drake is now taking over from Rebecca Perring.

GETTY Italian election 2018: The polls suggest 5-Star will receive the most votes

10:01pm: Exit poll results are in showing Five Star Movement as the single largest party. But Italy could be heading for a hung parliament after the results produced no outright winner. 9:13pm: New ballot papers are leading to confusion Former New York Times bureau chief, Rachel Donadio, tweeted: "There are already reports of botched ballots in today's Italian election. Here's a sample ballot. A new electoral law dictates a combination of proportional representation and first-past-the-post. Super confusing."The new electoral law - called Rosatellum Bis, which was inspired by the German system - has created a system which means just over a third of parliamentarians in the upper and lower jus are elected by the first past the post (FPTP) system. But Italy could be heading for a hung parliament after the results produced no outright winner.Former New York Times bureau chief, Rachel Donadio, tweeted: "There are already reports of botched ballots in today's Italian election. Here's a sample ballot. A new electoral law dictates a combination of proportional representation and first-past-the-post. Super confusing."The new electoral law - called Rosatellum Bis, which was inspired by the German system - has created a system which means just over a third of parliamentarians in the upper and lower jus are elected by the first past the post (FPTP) system. While two thirds are selected by proportional representation (PR). Voters have been handed two slips, one for each house, which means they can put a cross on each that will count for both first past the post and proportional representation elements. Candidates are allowed to stand in the FPTP ballot in one constituency, but can also be included on a party PR list in up to five constituencies. 8:29pm: Rebecca Perring is now taking over live updates.. 7.39pm: Italian media reports uneasy feeling among Matteo Renzi and Democratic Party (PD) supporters A commentary from Affar Italian suggests the turnout data is making Matteo Renzi and the Democratic Party leaders worried. The commentary read: "It should be noted that the data on voting participation in historically red regions such as Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria and the Marche are in line or even lower than those of the Northern Regions, Veneto in the lead. "All this, together with the bad data of Basilicata, feeds the concern in the Democratic Party for a very negative result. "No poll, of course. Only a strong impression. "Data on turnout instead particularly high in Lombardy and especially in Veneto, but also in Friuli Venezia Giulia, in Liguria and in Piedmont, are galvanising the Lega of Matteo Salvini. "Senators and members of Lega are almost certain of overtaking Forza Italia, although much will depend on the data in the South. "But in the southern regions, Sicily in the lead, the turnout is very low and this data, in addition to penalising Forza Italia, could affect negatively the result of the 5 Star Movement."

Italian election 2018 LIVE pictures: Who will win Italy election? Sun, March 4, 2018 Silvio Berlusconi, Matteo Salvini, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Renzi battle it out to become the next Prime Minister Play slideshow TWITTER 1 of 8 Italian election exit polls show Five Star Movement surge

7.27pm: A group of Italian voters was asked to return to their polling station to re-cast their vote after it was discovered they had been given the wrong voting papers The Parioli area in the Rome 02 constituency saw voting suspended after it was discovered 36 people had been given voting papers bearing the names of candidates for the Rome 01 constituency. Liberi e Uguali (LeU) candidate Giovanna Seddaiu said: "This morning we were delivered polling cards for the lower chamber with the names of candidates for the Rome 01 constituency instead of Rome 02 so voters had the wrong voting papers. "They still cast their vote but have now been called back. Apparently, two of them have already returned to vote again." 6.23pm: Turnout more than 50 percent as of 7pm local time According to YouTrend, voter turnout as of 7 p.m. was at 52.9 percent, compared to 57.2 percent during a referendum vote in 2016. 6.08pm update: Padellaro: “The novelty will be the M5s victory. Within the Democratic Party, we will witness an internal battle" "The novelty of these elections will be the victory of the 5-Star Movement, and I have the impression it will be important, even if they do not reach absolute majority". Antonio Padellaro, president of the publishing house il Fatto, comments on the eve of the election. "I believe that the center-right will have to start reckoning with its internal divisions. Of course, the party that must immediately deal with reality is the Democratic Party of Renzi.” 5.34pm update: ECB's Draghi tells wife to shut up in bizarre gaffe as he leaves polling station After he cast his vote this morning, a journalist asked European Central Bank President Mario Draghi: “Would you accept to become the next prime minister if Berlusconi asked you?” She also asked: “Would you create a government with Matteo Salvini?” Mr Draghi, who shook his head to make clear he wasn’t willing to answer any questions, walked to the car waiting for him, while his wife said: “He doesn’t do the government, he is not a politician”. But bizarrely then ECB chief was then heard scolding her while they were both entering the car, saying “c’mon, shut up”. 5.08pm update: Italian election likely to 'breed uncertainty' in the markets Dennis de Jong, managing director at UFX.com, said: “Sunday’s election could have a dangerous outcome for markets, with a very good chance that Europe will get its second hung parliament of the year. “Rise of the populist right in Germany has already left their rule in limbo and the same is expected to happen in Italy. "That may not be the worst result for markets, though, as the other alternative looks to be a multi-party centre-right coalition that could hinder harmony within the EU further. “It’s likely that markets will take a negative turn following an election that’s almost sure to breed uncertainty. "Although the Italian economy has dragged its heels from time to time, it remains the eurozone’s third largest and a vote for the euro-sceptics or a hung parliament could kickstart a tough week for the single currency.” 4.26pm update: Berlusconi tweets Leader of Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi has tweeted to his followers, amid pollsters predictions his centre-right party will emerge as the largest bloc in parliament, but fall short of a majority. He wrote: “Voting is our right and our duty. Today we can finally express ourselves democratically. "Good election day to all of you, my friends! "Those who love Italy, vote ... "#forzaitalia #4marzo”

Votare è un nostro diritto e un nostro dovere.

Oggi possiamo finalmente esprimerci democraticamente.

Buon voto a tutti voi, amici miei!



Chi ama l'Italia vota...#forzaitalia #4marzo pic.twitter.com/v4VviIHapA — Silvio Berlusconi (@berlusconi) March 4, 2018

4.18pm update: Italian election prediction These are the predictions according to Paolo Faloppa, teaching fellow in politics and international relations at Loughborough University, in order of plausibility: Grand coalition of Democratic Party (Partito Democratico) and Forza Italia A pro-European alliance based on the centre-left Democratic Party, its allies and Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, the grand coalition is likely especially in the hypothesis the PD reaches 25 percent or more of the vote This scenario is the preferred option for markets and the EU. However previously PD leader Matteo Renzi has said his party would never govern with “extremists” and Berlusconi has said it would be difficult to salvage his ties with Renzi. Centre-right bloc In the latest surveys before a polling blackout on February 17 the four-party, centre-right coalition led by ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, was the only group with a chance of winning a majority. According to the latest polls the centre-right bloc looks set to gain between 34 to 37 percent of the vote. Berlusconi and Salvini, leader of the euro-skeptic League, have a deal the leadership will go to the leader of the party getting more votes. However Berlusconi cannot become Prime Minister or even a member of the Parliament as he was found guilty of fraud in 2013. He has announced European Parliament President Antonio Tajani as choice to head any future government. Tajani's moderate profile is aimed at allaying fears in Europe about his populist allies, notably the League, whose leader Matteo Salvini has promised to deport the 600,000 boat migrants who have arrived in Italy over the past four years. Five Star Movement gains over 30 percent of the vote Pollsters have predicted the anti-establishment Five Star Movement looks set to be the biggest single party at the general election, if they do succeed in becoming the biggest single party, its leader Luigi Di Maio will only be given a mandate if he can form with other parties, which M5S chose not to do in the 2013 general election. Di Maio has said it would offer a government contract, which is a deal short of a coalition, where Di Maio insists on being prime minister but refuses to hand out ministerial jobs. President’s government Due to a hung parliament, the President seeks an external and technocratic personality to form a government of national unity. New elections If there is no clear winner, President Mattarella will start talks with representatives of each party in order to pick the candidate for the formation of a government, and he could give parties several weeks to negotiate, which could take up to two months or so.

Getty Italian election 2018: European Parliament President, Antonio Tajani, casts his vote

4.09pm: Possible outcomes of Italian election Pollsters have predicted that former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right party and his far-right allies - Lega and Brothers of Italy - will emerge as the largest bloc in parliament but they will fall short of the 40 percent of votes needed to win. Today’s election is likely to produce a hung parliament and weeks of political uncertainty. The Five Star Movement is not part of a coalition but it is believed to become the biggest party and receive between 27 percent and 30 percent, latest survey say. Federica Faloppa, lecturer in Italian Studies and Linguistics at University of Reading, said: “Even if the Five Star Movement - which is not part of a coalition - is likely to become the biggest party, the only coalition that could reach the 40 percent threshold is the right-wing coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi. The centre-left coalition is unlikely to receive a majority.” The vote is being held under a complex new electoral law that could mean the final result will not be clear until late on Monday. Some pollsters say Lega could overtake Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party on Sunday and the ruling centre-left Democratic Party is predicted to limp home in third place.

3.07pm update: Voters will use Italian election to send clear message to EU According to political risk analyst Raffaella Tenconi said voters will use the Italian election 2018 to send a clear message to the European Union. Eurosceptic voices lead a number of the major parties, including the Lega and the Five Star Movement (M5S) with a strong representation also in Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia. She said: "It’s true that love towards the EU has significantly decreased. "The Italian electorate is simply saying that the structural changes that have been done, the implementation policies and the type of policies that have been done are nor optimal for the state of the economy today." READ MORE: Voters to use Italian general election to send message to Brussels

2.14pm update: What is the new voting system in Italy? The electoral system used in Italy is brand new, so it is hard to predict the outcome of this general election. It is a “mixed” system - part “first-past-the-post” and part proportional representation or PR. Just over a third of seats in each chamber will be decided by winner-takes-all votes in individual constituencies and the rest will be allocated in proportion to the number of votes each party receives. The new electoral law is called Rosatellum Bis, which was inspired by the German system. The mixed electoral system was approved in November 2017 following support from Lega, Forza Italia and the Democrat Party, sees politicians elected in two days. This is a first-past-the-post electoral system and is used to vote the parties or coalitions leaders, ideally granting the most prominent people in the parties seats in Parliament. While the remaining 64 percent of seats are elected under a proportional method which sees a list of candidates chosen by party leaders who get more votes. Each party needs to get at least three percent of votes in both chambers to get into parliament, while coalitions need 10 percent. Paolo Cossarini, teaching fellow at Loughborough University, said: “It tends to favour those parties territorially concentrated, such as the Democratic Party in the central regions and the Northern League in the north, and those willing to ally together, to prevent splitting their vote.” Five Star Movement and small left-wing parties are strongly opposed to the new system.

Italy, General Election 12 PM Turnout:



2018: 19.38%

2013: 14.9%

2008: 16.5%



In 2008 and 2013 voting continued Monday — Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) March 4, 2018

1.50pm update: Candidate analysis This chart shows the percentage of candidates per coalition bloc who have already been elected over three times. The Five Star Movement are at 0 percent as they are a relatively new party and are yet to be in elected into government.

1.26pm update: Big rise in voting First turnout projections shared by the Italian Home Office Ministero degli Interni at 12.26 pm local time (11 am GMT) show that 19.23 percent of people went to vote this morning. The data are only partial, as they show the turnout in only 4,317 constituencies, roughly half of the total number Italians are voting in, but they already signal a rise in the number of people who voted compared to the last elections. On February 24, 2013, when the last general elections took place in Italy, 14.94 per cent of people went to vote before 12 pm. The 2013 elections took place in two days, across the whole day of Sunday and Monday morning. Today’s turnout is higher also than the one recorded in 2008 as well, when 16.5 per cent of Italians cast their ballot before noon. READ MORE: Voter turnout is higher than in the last ten years

1.03pm update: It's Salvini on a swing... Leader of Lega Matteo Salvini has tweeted a picture of himself beaming to the camera on a swing as he prepares for the result of the Italian election. He wrote: "Sun, swing and...vote Lega. Write in the comments where have you voted or where you will vote! Keep in mind to only put an 'x' on the symbol of Lega and nothing else on the voting paper. If we are all committed in the word of mouth we will win. #IvoteLega #Italiansfirst #election4march."

Sole, altalena e... si vota Lega!!! ������

Scrivete nei commenti da dove avete già votato o voterete! Mi raccomando: SOLO una X sul simbolo LEGA, senza altri segni. Se ci impegniamo tutti anche nel passaparola VINCIAMO!!!#oggivotoLega #primagliitaliani #elezioni4marzo #elezioni2018 pic.twitter.com/BP1i6HlizB — Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) March 4, 2018

12.37pm update: How many voters are at the polls? The region with the highest participation is currently Emilia Romagna, according to latest data from Italian newspaper Trieste Prima. Emilia Romagna has 22.76 percent participation at 12pm Italian time (11am GMT), Friuli Venezia Giulia is the second region in Italy for turnout, at 22.53 percent of voters at the polls. In Italy the average is 19 percent and Trieste is currently the region with the lowest turnout, at 22.3 percent , Gorzia is at 23.54 percent, Udine next at 22.63 percent and Pordenone with 22.41 percent voters at the polls. The voter turnout was 19 percent at 12pm Italian time, four percentage points higher than in 2013 but elections lasted two days. The next protection will be at 7pm.

Italian election: Antonio Tajani set to be Italy's prime minster Sun, March 4, 2018 European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has agreed to be Berlusconi's PM choice Play slideshow Bloomberg via Getty Images 1 of 9 European Parliament president Antonio Tajani is 'willing to serve Italy'

12.18pm update: Steve Bannon issues warning ahead of Italian election result Former White Chief strategist Steve Bannon has issued a warning that Brussels should be scared to death because of the rise of Italian populism. He was speaking on his visit to Italy and believes that Italy’s election is “the most important thing happening politically in the world right now.” Mr Bannon said people are “fed up” with EU’s migration policies and wants their sovereignty back. Speaking to Italian newspaper Republica he said: “Italians often think they are outside the dynamics of world politics, but these elections will prove if and how important is the power of sovereignty and how important it is in the modern world. “The EU has unloaded all the problems of Middle East and Africa on Italy and people are fed up with that, they want their sovereignty back.” READ MORE: Italian populism could 'scare Brussels TO DEATH' - Steve Bannon issues warning

Getty Italian election 2018: A topless woman protests against Berlusconi before he cast his vote

11.58am update: Topless woman protests against Berlusconi A woman has protest topless against Berlusconi with bodypaint reading "Berlusconi you have expired" as the leader of right-wing party Forza Italia cast his vote at a polling station in Milan. Footage from Milan shows the woman leaping onto the table flashing the former Italian Prime Minister. Security guards can be seen approaching Mr Berlusconi to take him away as photographers documenting his vote take pictures of the naked activist. Italians vote today in one of the country's most uncertain elections, with far-right and populist parties expected to make major gains and Silvio Berlusconi set to play a leading role. The protest mirrors a similar situation which happened during the 2013 general election when a group of topeless woman were dragged away by police when they protested against Silvio Berlusconi as he voted. The protest mirrors a similar situation which happened during the 2013 general election when a group of topeless woman were dragged away by police when they protested against Silvio Berlusconi as he voted. The protesters, from the Ukrainian women’s rights group Femen, shouted“Basta (Enough) Berlusconi”, as the media tycoon was voting in a polling station in a Milan school. The same words were painted on their bodies. Police quickly grabbed the women and roughly bundled them away. READ MORE: Topless activist confronts Berlusconi as he casts his vote in Milan

11.45am update: Voter turnout so far So far 19.02 percent of Italians have voted in the general election, the next projection should be around 7pm Italian time (6pm GMT). Cedomir Nestorovic, professor at ESSEC Business School said Italians are “passionate” about this election and will vote in mass. He said: "From my conversations with people in Italy, they are very passionate about this election, because it is an undecided election, we do not know who is going to win. Even if the right wing coalition is set for a clear victory, about 37 percent according to latest polls however the latest polls were two to three weeks back and in two to three weeks times, things might change but they expect they are going to win. “The Italians are very passionate about that and they will turn in mass in order to vote so in that case there is not a deficit in democracy in other countries where people complain not everyone is going there. For the Italians we can be sure they will vote."

11.30am update: Luigi Di Maio casts his vote Leader of the Five Star Movement 31-year-old Luigi Di Maio has cast his vote in the general election. He was electeted as leader of M5S in September last year. The 5-Star Movement has been particularly successful at tapping into the disaffection in the underdeveloped south and has promised a monthly universal wage of up to 780 euros ($960) for the poor. "I think 5-Star will win ... but I'm also worried that there won't be a winner. Both scenarios look catastrophic to me," said Giuseppe Ottaviani, who voted in Amelia, central Italy. “We are a step away from victory,” 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio said at a rally in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo, where a crowd waved flags and chanted “honesty”, the group’s buzzword.

Getty Italian election 2018: Luigi Di Maio places his vote in Naples

10.47am update: Millions of Italians will turn out to vote today Some 50.7 million Italians are eligible to vote and polling booths will remain open until 11 pm (10pm GMT). Local media will publish exit polls immediately afterwards, but it might take many hours before the full result emerges. Opinion polls were banned in the last two weeks of the campaign but surveys suggest Berlusconi’s alliance was in front but would not win a majority. Pollsters say the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement should emerge as the largest single party, while the ruling centre-left Democratic Party (PD) is seen coming third. Official results are expected early on Monday, although the final result might not be clear until late on Monday.

Italian election: Silvio Berlusconi set for big comeback Sun, March 4, 2018 Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi has survived sex scandals, serial gaffes and legal woes Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 9 Billionaire mogul Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia alliance is tipped to win the poll

10.26am update: More than 200 polling stations closed More than 200 polling stations are still closed two hours after the official opening of the vote. Polling stations in the southern Italian city Palermo, Sicily had to ask citizens to return later today to cast their ballots as they were delivered the wrong voting papers. It is understood more than 200,000 voting papers had to be reprinted and delivered to the polling stations involved. The ballot papers were not displaying the name of President of the Senate Pietro Grasso, leader of left-wing coalition Liberi E Uguali. Mr Grasso took to Twitter to voice his disappointment. He wrote: “In the most important day for a democracy these delays and mistakes are unacceptable. “I hope this won’t affect the turnout”. READ MORE: More than 200 polling stations CLOSED over wrong voting papers

10am update: Matteo Renzi casts his vote in the Italian election Renzi has voted in his polling station in Florence around 9.20am Italian time, the polling station was full with photographers and journalists so he said to the officials of the polling station "sorry for the annoyance". The current President of Italy has voted in Palermo and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni has also cast his vote in Rome.

Getty The Italian politician and leader of the Democratic Party (PD) Matteo Renzi c

EPA Italian election 2018: Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni casts his vote

9.29am: Italian election 2018 prediction The vote could bring political gridlock to Italy as no bloc is predicted to win enough votes to form a majority in government. Since the fall of fascism, all electoral laws have been re-written, so no single party can run by itself, instead seats are distributed in a proportional way. Even big parties need alliances to be able to have a majority and form a government, parties start their campaign from the beginning who they will ally with and form coalition lists with them. The centre-right bloc is formed of Forza Italia, Lega and Brothers of Italy and the centre-left bloc is made up of Democratic Party (Partito Democratic PD) and Insieme, Civica Popolare and +Europa. According to Paolo Cossarini, teaching fellow in Politics and International Relations at Loughborough University, he has predicted the vote percentage of the main blocs as follows: Bloc 1: Centre right bloc (FI, FdI, LN): 34-37%

Bloc 2: Centre Left (PD, + others): 30%

Party not in pre-electoral alliance - Five Star Movement: 25-28%

GETTY•EPA Italian election 2018: Polls in Italy are now open

8.48am update: Berlusconi’s centre-right bloc likely to win most seats Pollsters have predicted that former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and his far-right allies will emerge as the largest bloc in parliament, but fall short of a parliamentary majority. The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement looks set the be the biggest single party, establishing itself as a populist party, with the young at its heart. There was momentum for 5-Star in the final days of the campaign, but it is hard to see any party or coalition getting the 40 percent needed to form a government," said Lorenzo Pregliasco, co-founder of YouTrend pollsters. Polling stations close at 11.00 p.m. (2200 GMT), with exit polls due immediately afterwards. The vote is being held under a complex new electoral law which means the final result might not be clear until late Monday.

8.26am update: When do the polls close tonight? The polls will be open from 7am until 11pm today (6am untl 10pm GMT). Italians will vote across the country in the unpredictable contest which has largely been dominated by immigration. The first exit polls should be published immediately after the the polls close and the votes are expected to be counted around 2pm local time on Monday (3pm GMT). All 945 members of the parliament will be elected for the 18th legislature since 1948 - Camera dei Deputati (Chamber of Deputies/lower chamber) and 315 of the Camera del Senato (the Senate/upper house).

Italian election pictures: Who will win the election in Italy? Fri, March 2, 2018 Could Italy be the next EU member state to follow the UK out of the bloc? Play slideshow PA Images 1 of 14 Forza Italia's Silvio Berlusconi can't be a MP, as he was found guilty of fraud but Strasbourg could overturn this