Polls opened at 7 am (11:30am IST), with about 51 million Italians eligible to vote on Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's plan to drastically reduce the role of the upper house Senate and claw back powers from regional authorities.
With all the opposition parties lined up against the reform, a victory for Renzi would be a surprise and represent an enormous personal triumph for Italy's youngest prime minister who often appeared to be fighting the campaign single-handed
Turnout, expected at between 50 and 60 %, could be crucial. Pollsters say lower participation could favour Renzi, as hostility to his reform is strongest among young voters and those in the poor south, segments of the population that often don't bother to vote.
A turnout above 60 % could also make the result more unpredictable, as it would suggest many voters who said they planned to abstain ended up going to the polls.
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