Who can vote ? Who is banned from voting ?

The requirements are fairly limited :

• - Age: 18 years;
• - French citizenship ; EU citizens residing in France may, however, require to be registered on the supplementary electoral roll to vote in municipal and/or European elections.

Disfranchisement is limited to persons under guardianship and to persons serving certain criminal sentences. When disfranchisement isn't part of the sentence, detained persons may vote by proxy

How does one register to vote in France?

Registration is automatic with coming of age.

Voters may choose to be registered on the electoral roll:

• -of their official domicile;
• -or of a commune where they have been paying local taxes for at least the last 5 years;
• -or of a place of residence if the residence has been actual and continuous for at least the last 6 months;
• -or of a commune where civil servants/military personnel have been mandatorily posted.

Is voting compulsory ?

Voting is not compulsary.

How does one vote ?

French voters, once registered, are send a voter's card providing them the address of their polling station, at least 3 days prior to the election. In the smaller municipalities (with a population under 3,500 people), voters may cast their votes when presenting their voter's card only. In the more populated municipalities, a recognized identity document ( i.e. French identity card, driving licence or passport) is required and presenting a voter's card being optional.

Voting is strictly personal and strictly secret : it is an offense to try and control voting choice. It is even an offense to try and know one's voting choice.

Thus polling stations are equipped to protect voting freedom and secrecy :
At the polling station, upon presentation of voter's card and/or identity document, voters are issued an opaque envelope made of recycled paper.

There is one ballot paper per candidate.

All ballot papers are on one same table. Voters must take at least two different ballot papers prior to proceeding into the opaque polling booth where they fold a ballot paper into the envelope. They do not seal the envelope. Once their names are checked by the electoral officer, voters are allowed to put their ballot envelope in the ballot box and sign the electoral register.

What about postal votes and votes by proxy?

Voting by proxy allows absentee voters to be represented by the voter of their choice to cast their vote in their name. The proxy authorization can be issued for one single election (first round, second round or both), for a year (if it can be established that you are unable to go to a voting office over a long-term) Applications should be made :

• • at the gendarmerie, the police station or the district courthouse, in France ;
• • at the French embassy or consulate, when abroad.

A recognized proof of identity in addition to a signed statement mentioning the reason for which the requesting party cannot vote in person is required.

The proxy authorization can be issued :

• • for a single election (first round, second round or both) or;
• • for a year (if it can be established that you are unable to go to a voting office over a long-term) or ;
• • for a maximum period of three years (for a French citizen residing abroad).

Is the vote secret ?

Yes. It is one of the basic requirements in the Electoral code.

What about disabled voters? Illiterate voters ?

All voters are meant to be granted a equal access to voting facilities : voting stations must be accessible regardless of handicap and at least one voting booth must be accessible with a wheel chair.

Although voting is personal and secret, voters who need another person's help shall be assisted by the person they chose ; this shall be mentioned in the authenticated account of the voting station. When voters can't sign the electoral role, it can be signed by the person they chose and the electoral role shall bear the mention "the voter cannot sign him/herself"

Disabled voters may also vote by proxy.