Italians headed to polling stations Sunday morning for the first day of a two-day constitutional referendum on judicial reforms that represent a major test for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government.

The ballot asks voters to approve or reject the "Norme in materia di ordinamento giurisdizionale e di istituzione della Corte disciplinare," known as the Nordio Reform after Justice Minister Carlo Nordio. A yes vote would enact changes to several articles of the Italian Constitution, including separating the career paths of judges and public prosecutors to prevent switching between roles. It would also divide the High Council of the Judiciary (CSM) into separate bodies for judges and prosecutors, introduce random selection by sortition for two-thirds of their members from eligible magistrates and one-third lay members from legal experts, and create a new High Disciplinary Court to handle magistrate discipline.

Supporters, including Meloni's Brothers of Italy, the League, and Forza Italia, argue the measures will enhance judicial accountability, reduce internal factionalism known as "correnti," and modernize a system plagued by delays and perceived biases. The government coalition portrays the reform as essential for impartial justice, with Meloni recently intensifying her campaign rhetoric to warn that rejection would empower unaccountable judicial groups and hinder security policies.

Opposition parties such as the Democratic Party and Five Star Movement, along with major unions like CGIL and UIL, urge a no vote, contending the changes undermine judicial independence and fail to address core issues like court backlogs or corruption. Critics, including magistrates' associations, view it as an assault on post-war constitutional balances.

Unlike abrogative referendums, this confirmatory vote requires no quorum for validity; a simple majority of valid ballots decides. Polls conducted in early March showed a razor-thin race, with some surveys giving a slight edge to yes at around 50-51 percent and others to no at 50-52 percent among likely voters. Low turnout, expected due to voter fatigue and the technical nature of the issue, could favor the no side, as motivated opponents turn out while yes supporters stay home.

Early turnout figures reinforced concerns of apathy. By noon local time Sunday, about 14 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots, according to preliminary reports. Polling stations remain open until 11 p.m. today and tomorrow, with results anticipated late Monday.

The reform originated in Parliament last year, passing both chambers but falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to avoid a public vote. A citizens' committee gathered over 500,000 signatures to trigger the referendum, finalized after modifications in February.

For Meloni, who leads Italy's most stable government in years, the outcome carries high stakes despite her mandate lasting until 2027. A yes victory would bolster her reform agenda and image as a decisive leader in Europe. Defeat, however, could signal vulnerabilities a year before general elections, embolden the unified center-left opposition, and dent her standing amid international alignments, including with President Donald Trump.

Bar associations and some centrist groups back yes for greater meritocracy, while civil society organizations split along ideological lines. As voting continues, the referendum has galvanized debate on Italy's judiciary, long criticized for inefficiency. Italy ranks near the bottom in Europe for civil case resolution times.