Elegibile

Elegibile is a political-legal term used to describe a person who is eligible to be elected to a public office. In Italian-language texts the standard form is "eleggibile," with a double l and a double g; "elegibile" is commonly considered a misspelling. The related noun is "eleggibilità," referring to the state or condition of being eligible to stand for election.

The concept encompasses criteria established by constitutional or electoral law, such as possession of civil and political rights, citizenship, appropriate age, and residency, as well as the absence of disqualifying conditions. Eligibility is distinct from voting rights; it concerns the ability to be a candidate for election rather than the right to vote.

Eleggibilità rules vary by jurisdiction. Some systems require permanent citizenship, others permit dual citizenship under certain limits. Residency requirements, minimum age thresholds, and the prohibition of candidacy for individuals holding particular offices or having certain criminal convictions are common features. Many jurisdictions also specify disqualifications tied to incapacities or loss of civil rights.

In discussions of elections, the term is commonly paired with "incandidabilità" (ineligibility), which denotes conditions that permanently or temporarily prevent a person from standing for office. The balance between ensuring qualified representatives and maintaining broad access to political participation is a recurring topic in constitutional and electoral law.

See also: candidabilità (the status of being a candidate), incandidabilità (ineligibility).