Voting in France, for Foreigners

All EU citizens living as residents in France are legally entitled to vote in certain French elections, specifically: 

• Local Municipal Elections (Élections Municipales) 
• European Parliamentary Elections

Note: Registration to vote in either of these elections does not automatically qualify a voter for the other. Registration must be made separately for each. 

Municipal Elections: The Voting Process

At a Municipal level, municipal councillors are elected for a term of six-years. The councillors then elect the mayor. The number of municipal councillors depends on the size of the population. 

The system used is a two-ballot majority list poll, but the methods applied depend on the population size of the commune:

1. In communes with fewer than 3,500 inhabitants, voting for candidates on different lists (vote-splitting) and deletion of names (preference voting) are allowed and votes are counted by candidate: you can place your mark at the name of the candidate you choose, but delete the name of one who you specifically do not want. You can also "write-in" the names of candidates you prefer to those on the list.
2. In communes with more than 3,500 inhabitants, the ballot paper must not be altered by the voter and any vote for a list on which names have been deleted is considered invalid, votes are counted by list and some seats are allocated proportionally. 

Registering to vote

To be eligible to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old by the end of February of election year. They must not have been banned from voting in another EU state.

Registration to vote must be made by the last working day in December of the year preceding elections.

Registration is made at the Town Hall (mairie) of the place of residence. Go to the mairie taking:

• Valid proof of identity (passport)
• Proof of nationality (a passport, or driver's licence with photograph)
• Proof of address (a rent receipt, tax return, water or electricity bill)
• A completed voter registration form 
  • The form can be downloaded: Click here (PDF)

Note: A person may be registered to vote in municipal elections in more than one EU country at a time. 

How to vote

On polling day, go to the appropriate polling station taking:

• Voter registration card
• Proof of identity 

Each voter is given an envelope and the ballot papers of all candidates.

• Go into a polling booth and make the vote
• Place marked ballots in the envelope
• On exiting the booth, before posting the vote in the ballot box, show voter registration card and identity document. The registration card will be stamped
• Sign the register of voters 
• Put the vote into the ballot box

Voting machines 

Voting machines can be used in polling stations of communes of over 3,500 inhabitants. Currently between one and two million people will be able to vote using this method.

The process is the same in that on polling day the voter goes to the appropriate polling station taking:

• Voter registration card
• Proof of identity 

These documents should be shown before voting. The documents will be checked along with the inscription on the voting list. 

• The voting machine will open up and the voter is directed to the machine where the names of the candidates and a blank vote option will be listed
• Select the voting option (this will appear on a screen) and if correct, validate it. If a mistake is made before validation then simple select the correct option

The machine will close after validation. After voting, sign the register of voters. The registration card will be stamped.

• Further information and a picture of the voting machine: Click here (in French)

Absentee voting

A voter unable to attend a polling station on election day may vote by proxy. 

Accepted reasons for absenteeism are:

• Professional or family obligations
• Health limitation (unable to leave the house/hospital)
• Holiday out of the commune

How to vote by proxy

Prior to the elections, go to the local mairie who will tell explain where to register a proxy vote. It will probably be at a magistrate's court or with a legal senior police officer at the police station.

• Show suitable proof of reason for absence - for example, letter from an employer or medical certificate - and proof of identity.
• Nominate a proxy who must be registered on the electoral roll of the commune.

European Parliamentary Elections

All EU citizens in may vote in the European Parliamentary Elections. A citizen may only vote once per election and only from the place in which they are registered to vote.

By voting in France, the EU citizen votes for their choice of French representative to the the European Parliament. And after voting in France the EU national loses their right to vote in another State of the Union (anyone doing so may be fined and imprisoned).

Registration to vote

• The registration form for French representative to parliamentary elections (Élection des représentants Français au Parlement Européen) can be downloaded: Click here (PDF)

The form should be sent by registered letter with notification of receipt (AR) to the Mairie (Town Hall) of the place of residence. The following documents must be enclosed:

• A copy of a valid identity document (passport) 
• A recent utility invoice (three months) with name and home address

Further Information

• Information on EU Citizens rights to vote in municipal elections from the ministry of the interior: Click here (in French)
• For information on standing as a candidate in French municipal elections: Click here (in French) 
• European Parliament website