Yet as a consequence of Deaglio’s arguments – which seem unconvincing and have been found to be so by the judicial system – the Italian Senate Committee for Elections has moved to recount the blank, wasted, and spoilt votes in seven regions.

It’s not clear why these particular regions were chosen. They include regions won by the left and by the right, by narrow margins and by huge margins:

• Campania – 0.5% gap in favour of the left
• Calabria – 14.2% gap in favour of the left
• Lazio – 1.1% gap in favour of the right
• Lombardia – 14.3% gap in favour of the right
• Puglia – 4% in favour of the right
• Sicilia – 17.3% in favour of the right
• Toscana – 22.6% gap in favour of the left

Would be interesting to get a breakdown of the number of blank and spoiled ballots by region, and see whether the number of contested ballots in Campania and Lazio could result in a re-allocation of seats. Unfortunately, the Interior Ministry doesn’t seem to have this data.