A four-part abrogative referendum on fertility laws was held in Italy on 12 June 2005.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1049 Voters were asked whether research and access to the research on embryos should no longer be limited, whether embryos should no longer be legally recognised as people and whether IVF treatment should no longer be limited to three embryos.Nohlen & Stöver, pp1063-1064 The referendum was called after the Italian Radicals collected the 500,000 signatures required.Poor turnout for Italy's fertility referendum BioNews, 13 June 2005 Although all four proposals were approved by wide margins, the voter turnout of 26% was well below the 50% threshold and the results were invalidated. Pope Benedict XVI had called for a boycott.Pope backs boycott of Italy's referendum on assisted fertility Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2005
Results Scrapping limitations on clinical and experimental research on embryos ChoiceVotes%Yes10,743,71088.0No1,461,21712.0Invalid/blank votes532,691–Total12,737,618100Registered voters/turnout49,648,42525.7Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Scrapping limits on access to research on embryos ChoiceVotes%Yes10,819,90988.8No1,367,28811.2Invalid/blank votes551,200–Total12,738,397100Registered voters/turnout49,648,42525.7Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Scrapping the legal definition of embryos as people ChoiceVotes%Yes10,663,12587.7No1,492,04212.3Invalid/blank votes579,766–Total12,734,933100Registered voters/turnout49,648,42525.7Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Allowing IVF treatment with donated eggs or sperm ChoiceVotes%Yes9,391,16178.2No2,744,89521.8Invalid/blank votes590,080–Total12,726,136100Registered voters/turnout49,648,42525.6Source: Nohlen & Stöver
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