I'm not sure that's true, the monarchy in Italy was relatively modern and short lived, preceded by a patchwork of republics with wonderful election systems.
Here's an example of how the elections for Doxe de Venezia worked in the Republic of Venice[0]:
> Thirty members of the Great Council, chosen by lot, were reduced by lot to nine; the nine chose forty and the forty were reduced by lot to twelve, who chose twenty-five. The twenty-five were reduced by lot to nine, and the nine elected forty-five. These forty-five were once more reduced by lot to eleven, and the eleven finally chose the forty-one who elected the doge. Election required at least twenty-five votes out of forty-one, nine votes out of eleven or twelve, or seven votes out of nine electors.
Not just republics - this particular claim descends through the short-lived King of Italy (which missed the age of absolutism by several centuries) from the Papal States.
Here's an example of how the elections for Doxe de Venezia worked in the Republic of Venice[0]:
> Thirty members of the Great Council, chosen by lot, were reduced by lot to nine; the nine chose forty and the forty were reduced by lot to twelve, who chose twenty-five. The twenty-five were reduced by lot to nine, and the nine elected forty-five. These forty-five were once more reduced by lot to eleven, and the eleven finally chose the forty-one who elected the doge. Election required at least twenty-five votes out of forty-one, nine votes out of eleven or twelve, or seven votes out of nine electors.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doge_of_Venice