Voting in France

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

• Local (municipal) elections
• European elections

The voting process (Municipal Elections):

At a Municipal level, municipal councilors are elected for a term of six-years. The councilors then elect the mayor. The number of municipal councilors 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:

• 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.
• 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. 

How to vote: 

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

• Your voter registration card
• An identity document (such as a Carte de Séjour)

You will be given an envelope and the ballot papers of all candidates.

• Go into a polling booth and make your vote
• Place your marked ballots in the envelope
• When you exit the booth, before posting you vote in the ballot box you will have to show your registration card and identity document. The registration card will be stamped.
• Sign at your name in the register of voters 
• Put your vote into the ballot box.

Absentee Voting:

If you are unable to vote on the assigned day, you can vote by proxy. 

Accepted reasons for absenteeism are:

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

How to vote by proxy:

Prior to the elections, you must go to your local Mairie who will tell you where to register your proxy vote. It will probably be at a magistrates court or with a legal senior police officer at the police station.

You will have to show suitable proof of reason for your absence - for example, letter from your employer or medical certificate - and your identity document.

Your nominee must be registered on the electoral roll of your commune.

Registering to vote:

There is some confusing advice around on what you need to do in order to exercise this right, but the actual requirements are as follows:

What to do:

You must present yourself at the Mairie of the commune in which you live with:

• Your identity document.
• ID from your country of nationality (e.g. a passport, or driver's licence with photograph).
• A justificatif proving you live where you say you do (such as a rent receipt, telephone bill or electricity bill).

 You will then need to fill in the formulaire, or voter registration form.

And that's it - you'll be able to vote in France!