An attempt to speed up the citizenship process for immigrants in Italy through a referendum has fallen short due to a lack of voter participation. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's call for a boycott influenced the low turnout during the two-day voting period.

Only about 30% of eligible voters took part in the referendum, which aimed to reduce the residency requirement for migrants seeking citizenship. The turnout was well below the 50% threshold needed for the referendum to pass, according to the Italian ministry of interior.

The referendum, supported by left-wing opposition and activist groups, aimed to overturn a law from 1992 that mandated 10 years of residency for non-EU foreigners, up from a previous five-year requirement.

If successful, the referendum would have allowed 2.5 million foreign migrants who had been in Italy for five years or more to apply for citizenship immediately. Despite more than 60% of voters supporting the change, the referendum did not meet the required threshold.

Following the failure of the referendum, far-right deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini announced plans to tighten citizenship laws further to make naturalization even more challenging. Salvini emphasized that citizenship should not be seen as a simple gift and called for stricter rules for becoming an Italian citizen.

Italy is home to a growing number of children of immigrant parents who are raised and educated in the country but are considered foreigners legally. Approximately 11% of students in Italian schools are foreign nationals.

The referendum campaign was sparked by a debate last year when Italy's women's volleyball team, composed of daughters of African migrants, won an Olympic gold medal. This event led to calls for a quicker path to citizenship for children of migrant origin raised in Italy.

Despite the disappointment of referendum supporters, they remain committed to advocating for a faster and simpler naturalization process, which currently can take up to 15 years. Deepika Salhan, an Indian-born activist who acquired Italian citizenship after seven years, stressed the importance of continuing the fight for comprehensive immigration law reform.

The lack of coverage in mainstream media and a general lack of awareness among the public were cited as reasons for the low voter turnout. Both the League and Forza Italia parties suggested that Italians preferred spending time at the beach rather than participating in the referendum.

Overall, the referendum's failure highlights the contentious nature of immigration policy in Italy and the challenges of addressing citizenship issues in a politically charged environment.