# 2020 Apulian regional election

The 2020 Apulian regional election took place in Apulia, Italy, on 20 and 21 September. It was originally scheduled to take place on May 31, 2020, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

## Electoral system

The electoral law is established by the Regional Law n. 7/2015. The regional council is made up of 50 councilors, plus the president; The first 23 seats are divided at the district level and the remaining 27 at the level of the single regional constituency. The law provides for a single round, with list voting, the possibility of expressing two preferences of different gender within the chosen list, and voting for the candidate for president, on a single ballot. It is possible to vote for a slate and a candidate for the chair that are not connected to each other ("split vote").
The candidate who obtains the majority (even only relative) of the votes is elected President of the Region. The lists linked to the elected president are eventually assigned a majority bonus in the following measure: at least 29 seats if the elected president has obtained a percentage of preferences higher than 40%; at least 28 seats if the elected president has obtained a percentage of preferences between 35% and 40%, while if it falls below 35%, at least 27 councilors would be assigned. The law provides for a threshold of 8% for coalitions and lists that run on their own and 4% for lists that present themselves in a coalition.

## Background

On January 12, 2020, the Democratic Party (PD) held its primaries in which Governor Michele Emiliano was the winner.
Centre-left coalition Apulian governor primaries :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Michele Emiliano | 56,773 | 70.42 |
| | Fabiano Amati | 11,559 | 14.34 |
| | Elena Gentile | 9,753 | 12.10 |
| | Leonardo Palmisano | 2,532 | 3.14 |
| Total | Total | 80,617 | 100.0 |
Following the primaries' victory of Emiliano, considered by Italia Viva (IV) too close to the political positions of the Five Star Movement (M5S), Matteo Renzi announced that his party would run separately from the center-left coalition. Other centrist parties like More Europe and Action welcomed Renzi's call. Action had supported the candidacy of Fabiano Amati in the PD's primaries.
After the pre-electoral agreements between the three parties of the center-right coalition, Brothers of Italy announced that the candidate in the region would be Raffaele Fitto, MEP and former governor of Apulia. However, the decision was opposed by the Salento section of the League, which instead proposed Nuccio Altieri. The final choice would be determined by the outcome of the regional elections in Emilia-Romagna and Calabria which could upset the balance between the center-right forces and therefore lead to a modification of pre-election agreements.
The M5S held the primaries on its electoral platform Rousseau. The candidates were Cristian Casili, Mario Conca, Antonella Laricchia, and Antonio Trevisi.

## Parties and candidates

| Political party or alliance | Political party or alliance | Constituent lists | Constituent lists | Previous result | Previous result | Candidate |
| Political party or alliance | Political party or alliance | Constituent lists | Constituent lists | Votes (%) | Seats | Candidate |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Democratic Party (PD) | 19.8 | 13 | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Emiliano Mayor of Apulia | 9.7 | 6 | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Populars with Emiliano (incl. CD, Popular Apulia and UDC dissidents) | 6.2 | 3 | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Pensioners and Disabled | 0.4 | – | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Civic Sense (incl. Art.1 and PRI) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | With Emiliano | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Solidary and Green Apulia (incl. SI, EV, PSI, èViva) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Italia in Comune (IiC) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Italian Animalist Party (PAI) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Party of the South (PdS) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Independent South | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Christian Democracy (DC) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Alternative Left (SA) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Open Society Association – The Liberals | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-left coalition | | Thought and Action Party (PPA) | — | — | Michele Emiliano |
| | Centre-right coalition | | Forza Italia (FI) | 11.4 | 5 | Raffaele Fitto |
| | Centre-right coalition | | Brothers of Italy (FdI) | 2.5 | – | Raffaele Fitto |
| | Centre-right coalition | | League (Lega) | 2.4 | – | Raffaele Fitto |
| | Centre-right coalition | | Union of the Centre – New PSI (incl. LAM) | — | — | Raffaele Fitto |
| | Centre-right coalition | | Apulia Tomorrow – Fitto for President | — | — | Raffaele Fitto |
| | M5S coalition | | Five Star Movement (M5S) | 17.2 | 7 | Antonella Laricchia |
| | M5S coalition | | Future Apulia (PF) | — | — | Antonella Laricchia |
| | Italia Viva coalition | | Italia Viva (IV) | — | — | Ivan Scalfarotto |
| | Italia Viva coalition | | Scalfarotto for President – More Europe (incl. A) | — | — | Ivan Scalfarotto |
| | Italia Viva coalition | | Green Future (incl. Volt, PLI and ALI) | — | — | Ivan Scalfarotto |
| | Work Environment Constitution (PRC – PCI – RS) | Work Environment Constitution (PRC – PCI – RS) | Work Environment Constitution (PRC – PCI – RS) | 1.6 | – | Nicola Cesaria |
| | Apulian Citizens | Apulian Citizens | Apulian Citizens | — | — | Mario Conca |
| | Tricolour Flame (FT) | Tricolour Flame (FT) | Tricolour Flame (FT) | — | — | Pierfranco Bruni |
| | Reconquer Italy (RI) | Reconquer Italy (RI) | Reconquer Italy (RI) | — | — | Andrea D'Agosto |
* ↑ 0.9 % of the vote to The Other Apulia (PRC) + 0.7 % of the vote to PCI.

## Opinion polls
### Candidates

| Date | Polling firm/ Client | Sample size | Emiliano | Fitto | Laricchia | Scalfarotto | Others | Undecided | Lead |
| 21 Sep 2020 | Opinio (exit poll) | – | 39.0–43.0 | 39.0–43.0 | 11.0–15.0 | 1.0–3.0 | – | – | Tie |
| 4 Sep 2020 | Lab2101 | – | 30.2 | 30.9 | 30.8 | — | 8.2 | — | 0.1 |
| 29 Aug–1 Sep 2020 | BiDiMedia | 1,325 | 40.2 | 38.9 | 14.3 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 13.3 | 1.3 |
| 28 Aug–1 Sep 2020 | Scenari Politici–Winpoll | 1,000 | 38.2 | 39.6 | 15.9 | 4.7 | 1.6 | — | 1.4 |
| 28–31 Aug 2020 | Ipsos | 900 | 39.4 | 41.0 | 15.6 | 1.6 | 2.4 | — | 1.6 |
| 28–31 Aug 2020 | Quorum–YouTrend | 800 | 39.4 | 40.2 | 15.3 | 3.9 | 1.2 | — | 0.8 |
| 28 Aug 2020 | Tecnè | 2,000 | 36–40 | 39–43 | 14–18 | 2–6 | 1–3 | — | -1–7 |
| 27–29 Aug 2020 | EMG | 1,200 | 38.5 | 43.5 | 12.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | — | 5.0 |
| 24 Aug–2 Sep 2020 | Noto | — | 36–40 | 39–43 | 12–16 | — | 5–9 | — | -1–7 |
| 10 Aug 2020 | EMG Archived 2020-09-27 at the Wayback Machine | – | 37.5 | 43.5 | 12.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | — | 6.0 |
| 8 Aug 2020 | Gpf | 1,501 | 42.3 | 37.9 | 16.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | — | 4.4 |
| 5–6 Aug 2020 | Tecnè | 1,000 | 37.0 | 42.0 | 15.0 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 14.9 | 5.0 |
| 3–6 Aug 2020 | BiDiMedia | 1,353 | 38.8 | 38.1 | 16.7 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 15.5 | 0.7 |
| 9–14 July 2020 | Lab21 Archived 2020-07-18 at the Wayback Machine | – | 34.5 | 30.2 | 31.1 | 3.1 | 1.1 | — | 3.4 |
| 5–7 July 2020 | Troisi Research | 1000 | 41.1 | 37.6 | 16.7 | 4.2 | 0.4 | — | 3.5 |
| 3 July 2020 | Euromedia Research | – | 39.8 | 37.8 | 17.1 | 3.6 | 1.7 | — | 2.0 |
| 26 Jun 2020 | Noto | – | 38.0 | 45.0 | 11.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | — | 7.0 |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Lab21 | – | 32.0–36.0 | 32.0–36.0 | 22.0–26.0 | 4.0–6.0 | 2.0–4.0 | — | Tie |
| 4 Jun 2020 | Noto | – | 37.5 | 45.0 | — | — | — | — | 7.5 |
| 4 Jun 2020 | EMG | – | 36.5 | 43.5 | — | — | — | — | 7.0 |
| 19 Feb 2020 | Noto | – | 32.0 | 46.0 | — | — | — | — | 14.0 |
| 4–10 Feb 2020 | MG Research | 600 | 35.0–39.0 | 27.5–31.5 | 27.5–31.5 | 1.0–3.0 | 1.0–3.0 | — | 4.5–11.5 |

### Parties

| Date | Polling firm | Sample size | Centre-left | Centre-left | Centre-left | M5S | Centre-right | Centre-right | Centre-right | Centre-right | Centre | Others | Undecided | Lead |
| Date | Polling firm | Sample size | PD | PSV | Other | M5S | FI | Lega | FdI | Other | Centre | Others | Undecided | Lead |
| 4 Sep 2020 | Bidimedia | 1325 | 15.3 | 3.8 | 19.8 | 14.2 | 8.5 | 11.1 | 13.7 | 6.2 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 13.9 | 1.1 |
| 28 Aug–1 Sep 2020 | Scenari Politici–Winpoll | 1,000 | 16.7 | — | 18.6 | 17.7 | 7.1 | 15.1 | 14.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 1.8 | — | 1.0 |
| 28–31 Aug 2020 | Ipsos | 900 | 18.0 | — | 20.4 | 17.0 | 7.5 | 17.5 | 12.9 | 4.5 | — | 2.2 | — | 0.5 |
| 27–29 Aug 2020 | EMG | 1,200 | 18.0 | 2.0 | 16.0 | 14.5 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 13.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 24.3 | 3.5 |
| 10 Aug 2020 | EMG Archived 2020-09-27 at the Wayback Machine | 1,800 | 21.5 | — | 13.0 | 13.5 | 10.0 | 15.0 | 14.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | — | 6.5 |
| 3–6 August 2020 | BiDiMedia | 1,353 | 15.0 | 4.0 | 18.7 | 16.4 | 8.4 | 10.5 | 14.1 | 6.1 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 18.5 | 1.4 |
| 9–14 July 2020 | Lab21 Archived 2020-07-18 at the Wayback Machine | – | 21.3 | 3.2 | 10.2 | 22.7 | 7.6 | 17.4 | 9.3 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 0.6 | — | 1.4 |
| 3 July 2020 | Euromedia Research | – | 20.1 | 2.1 | 16.4 | 19.2 | 8.3 | 18.1 | 8.5 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 39.9 | 2.6 |
| 29–May–1 Jun 2020 | SWG | – | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | — | 43.0 | 43.0 | 43.0 | 43.0 | — | — | — | 4.0 |
| 26-28 Feb 2020 | Winpoll | – | 23.0 | 2.6 | 6.6 | 9.6 | 7.9 | 20.4 | 20.2 | 0.2 | 8.3 | 1.2 | 20 | 2.6 |
| 19 Feb 2020 | Noto | – | 20.0 | — | — | 15.0 | — | 20.0 | 12.0 | — | 6.0–6.5 | — | — | Tie |
| 4–10 Feb 2020 | MG Research | 600 | 19.0–23.0 | 6.0–10.0 | 2.0–6.0 | 25.0–29.0 | 5.0–9.0 | 16.0–20.0 | 6.0–10.0 | — | 2.0–6.0 | 1.0–5.0 | — | 2.0–10.0 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 This poll was commissioned by a political party.
* ↑ Ivan Scalfarotto wasn't the official candidate at the time the opinion poll was made

## Results

20–21 September 2020 Apulian regional election results :
| Candidates | Candidates | Votes | % | Seats | Parties | Parties | Votes | % | Seats |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Democratic Party | 289,188 | 17.25 | 16 |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | With Emiliano | 110,559 | 6.59 | 6 |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Populars with Emiliano | 99,621 | 5.94 | 5 |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Civic Sense – A New Olive Tree for Apulia | 69,780 | 4.16 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Italia in Comune | 64,886 | 3.87 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Solidary and Green Apulia | 63,725 | 3.80 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Emiliano Mayor of Apulia | 43,404 | 2.59 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Animalist Party | 5,573 | 0.33 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Alternative Left | 4,192 | 0.25 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Pensioners and Disabled | 3,119 | 0.19 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Party of the South | 1,410 | 0.08 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Thought and Action Party | 1,243 | 0.07 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Independent South | 1,179 | 0.07 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Christian Democracy | 1,047 | 0.06 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | | Open Society Association – The Liberals | 806 | 0.05 | – |
| | Michele Emiliano | 871,028 | 46.78 | 1 | Total | Total | 759,732 | 45.32 | 27 |
| | Raffaele Fitto | 724,928 | 38.93 | 1 | | Brothers of Italy | 211,693 | 12.63 | 6 |
| | Raffaele Fitto | 724,928 | 38.93 | 1 | | League | 160,507 | 9.57 | 4 |
| | Raffaele Fitto | 724,928 | 38.93 | 1 | | Forza Italia | 149,399 | 8.91 | 4 |
| | Raffaele Fitto | 724,928 | 38.93 | 1 | | Apulia Tomorrow | 141,201 | 8.42 | 3 |
| | Raffaele Fitto | 724,928 | 38.93 | 1 | | Union of the Centre – New PSI | 31,736 | 1.89 | – |
| | Raffaele Fitto | 724,928 | 38.93 | 1 | Total | Total | 694,536 | 41.43 | 17 |
| | Antonella Laricchia | 207,038 | 11.12 | – | | Five Star Movement | 165,243 | 9.86 | 5 |
| | Antonella Laricchia | 207,038 | 11.12 | – | | Future Apulia | 9,897 | 0.59 | – |
| | Antonella Laricchia | 207,038 | 11.12 | – | Total | Total | 175,140 | 10.45 | 5 |
| | Ivan Scalfarotto | 29,808 | 1.60 | – | | Italia Viva | 18,025 | 1.08 | – |
| | Ivan Scalfarotto | 29,808 | 1.60 | – | | Scalfarotto for President | 5,062 | 0.30 | – |
| | Ivan Scalfarotto | 29,808 | 1.60 | – | | Green Future | 1,888 | 0.11 | – |
| | Ivan Scalfarotto | 29,808 | 1.60 | – | Total | Total | 24,975 | 1.49 | – |
| | Mario Conca | 16,531 | 0.89 | – | | Apulian Citizens | 12,162 | 0.73 | – |
| | Nicola Cesaria | 7,222 | 0.39 | – | | Work Environment Constitution | 5,880 | 0.35 | – |
| | Pierfranco Bruni | 3,115 | 0.17 | – | | Tricolour Flame | 2,362 | 0.14 | – |
| | Andrea D'Agosto | 2,353 | 0.13 | – | | Reconquer Italy | 1,712 | 0.10 | – |
| Blank and invalid votes | Blank and invalid votes | 149,658 | 7.44 | | | | | | |
| Total candidates | Total candidates | 1,862,023 | 100.00 | 2 | Total parties | Total parties | 1,676,499 | 100.00 | 49 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,565,013 | 56.43 | | | | | | |
| Source: Ministry of the Interior – Results Archived 2020-09-23 at the Wayback Machine ||||||||||
Popular vote
PD
17.25%
FdI
12.63%
M5S
9.86%
Lega
9.57%
FI
8.91%
LPD
8.42%
CE
6.59%
Pop.
5.94%
SC
4.16%
IiC
3.87%
PSV
3.80%
ESP
2.59%
UDC–NPSI
1.89%
IV
1.08%
Others
3.44% :
President
Emiliano
46.78%
Fitto
38.93%
Laricchia
11.12%
Scalfarotto
1.60%
Others
1.57% :
Seats summary
Centre-left
54.90%
Centre-right
35.29%
M5S
6.81% :

### Turnout

| Region | Time | Time | Time | Time |
| Region | 20 Sep | 20 Sep | 20 Sep | 21 Sep |
| Region | 12:00 | 19:00 | 23:00 | 15:00 |
| Apulia | 12.04% | 27.60% | 39.89% | 56.43% |
| Province | Time | Time | Time | Time |
| Province | 20 Sep | 20 Sep | 20 Sep | 21 Sep |
| Province | 12:00 | 19:00 | 23:00 | 15:00 |
| Bari | 12.95% | 29.20% | 40.92% | 56.88% |
| Barletta-Andria-Trani | 12.76% | 29.72% | 42.61% | 59.95% |
| Brindisi | 11.53% | 26.71% | 38.70% | 54.79% |
| Foggia | 10.66% | 25.07% | 36.54% | 52.76% |
| Lecce | 12.18% | 27.84% | 41.05% | 58.12% |
| Taranto | 11.23% | 25.67% | 38.53% | 55.75% |
| Source: Ministry of the Interior – Turnout Archived 2020-10-06 at the Wayback Machine |||||