The change for over-70s was set to come in as part of the Italian government’s incoming “simplification decree”, a broader package of administrative changes aimed at making life easier for citizens, Zangrillo said.
The rule change was expected to be approved by parliament “by the end of the year," Public Administration Minister Paolo Zangrillo said at an event on Thursday, according to Sky TG24.
The change would mean no longer “requiring older people to go to the town hall, wait in line, and go through all the bureaucratic procedures,” he said.
“We want to adopt a solution that allows them to have their identity card automatically renewed without them having to do anything.
“Efforts to simplify such matters are a priority, to ensure that our public administration is seen by citizens as an opportunity, not an obstacle."
It was unclear whether the validity period would be extended or if cards would become valid indefinitely, according to reports.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How to get an Italian identity card
The text detailing the measures was to arrive in parliament "in the coming days," Zangrillo said.
Currently, Italian identity cards must be renewed every 10 years for all adults, and renewals can be requested to 180 days before the card's expiry date.
Officially called the Carta di Identità Elettronica (CIE), the ID card was issued in paper format until nine years ago, when it was replaced by an electronic version.
It's mainly used to verify the holder’s identity during bureaucratic procedures at public administration offices.
The measure was estimated to affect over seven million people in Italy.
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