How to vote in France

The European elections take place in France on 9 June 2024. Anyone aged 18 or over can cast a vote. It is also possible to vote by proxy or from abroad if certain conditions are met.

What is the date of the elections?

The elections take place in France on 9 June 2024. The election will take place on 8 June 2024 in the overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guyana, the overseas territories of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and French Polynesia, as well as in the polling stations open in the French embassies and consulates on the American continent.

How many Members of European Parliament (MEPs) are elected?

Voters in France will elect 81 MEPs in 2024, two more than in the 2019 elections. In total, the European Parliament will have 720 members after the 2024 election, compared to 705 currently. 

How are the members elected?

Members of the European Parliament are elected by direct universal suffrage in a single-round ballot. Under EU law, all countries must use voting systems that ensure proportional representation, which means that the number of elected members from each party depends on the share of electoral votes obtained by the party. France uses closed lists, which do not allow voters to change the order of candidates on the list.

Who is eligible to vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must be either:

• a French citizen aged 18 or over on the day before the vote

• a citizen of another EU country aged 18 or over with voting rights in your home State

In both cases, you must be domiciled in the municipality where you wish to vote and registered on the electoral roll.

Where can I vote?

French or EU citizen voting in France
You must vote in a specific polling station, whose address is indicated on your voter registration card. You can also find your polling station on this website "Check your electoral status" (in French). Polling stations are usually located at the town hall or other public buildings of your municipality.

In order to vote, you need to be registered on the electoral roll of your municipality or "commune". This can be: the municipality in which you hold permanent residence or have been living in for at least 6 months ; the municipality where you have been paying local taxes for at least 2 years ; the municipality where your company (as manager, or majority or sole shareholder) has been registered for at least 2 years ; for civil servants, your residence of mandatory assignment. 

For more information, check out the page "Registering on the electoral roll" of the website of the Ministry of Interior (in French).

French citizen voting from abroad
As a French expat living in another EU country or a third country and willing to vote for candidates running in France, you vote in polling stations organised by the French embassy or consulate of the country where you live. Find out more on voting by a French citizen residing abroad on this website.

Please keep in mind that if you are registered on both the electoral roll for French expats and the electoral roll of the EU country you are currently living in, you will have to vote for the constituency of your country of residence. 

Where should I register to vote?

French or EU citizen voting in France
In order to vote, you need to be registered on the electoral roll of your municipality or "commune". You can register either in-person in the town hall of the municipality where you will vote, online by Wednesday, or by post.

If you have already registered for previous elections, or if you are a first-time voter and have been informed by your local town hall that you are registered, you won’t need to register in advance, as this is done automatically by the authorities. However, if you have changed your home address recently, you will need to register with the town hall of your new municipality. If you are voting for the first time and have not been contacted by your local authority, you should also register.

For more information, you may check the following web pages:
• New registration
• First-time voter
• Voters who have changed their address

French citizen voting from abroad
If you are a French expat living in another EU or third country and are willing to vote for candidates running in France, you must sign up to the consular electoral list at the French embassy or consulate (in French). 

For more information, check out this page: Voting by a French citizen residing abroadPlease note that French citizens registered on the "Register of French citizens established outside France" are automatically entered on the consular electoral roll, unless they object. French citizens residing abroad who are not registered on the "Register of French citizens established outside France" may also register on the consular electoral roll of their country of residence.

If you are a French citizen currently living in a EU country other than France, you may be registered both on the consular electoral liste and on the electoral roll of your country of residence. If so, you will vote for the constituency of your country of residence unless you ask to unregister from the electoral roll of your country of residence.

What is the deadline for registering to vote?

French or EU citizen voting in France
You need to register before Friday, 3 May 2024 (or Wednesday, 1 May 2024 if you register online).

French citizen voting from abroad
You must sign up to the consular electoral roll at the French embassy or consulate of your country of residence (in French) before Friday, 3 May 2024. 

What documents do I need to bring to the polling station?

You need to bring your voter registration card and your ID. Only original ID is accepted.
For more information, check out this webpage: Elections: identity documents required for voting.

What support can I have as voter with a disability?

Polling stations and voting techniques must be accessible to you, whatever your disability. Access to the voting booth and ballot box must be facilitated, particularly if you use a wheelchair. The president of the polling station must take all necessary measures to facilitate this right. If necessary, you have the right to be accompanied to the polling booth and to be assisted in the voting process by the voter of your choice. 

If you are unable to go to the polling station, authorities make it easier for you to apply for a proxy vote: you can ask a police officer to come to your home to issue the proxy. 

Candidates' manifestos must be available in a format that is easy to read and understand. 

For more information, check out this page : "Voting for people with disabilities" (in French).

Where can I find easy-to-read information?

Manifestos and ballot papers will be mailed to your home address. Digital versions of candidate manifestos, as well as easy-to-read and understand versions will be available on the section "Candidates' manifestos for elections" of the website of the Ministry of Interior (in French).
You may also find easy-to-read information about European elections on the easy-to-read page of this website.

Can I vote by mail, online or proxy?

In France mail and online voting is not possible. Voting by proxy (in French) is possible if you know ahead of time that you will be unable to go to the polls on 9 June 2024. From 2020, you no longer need to justify why you are unable to go. You can give your proxy also to a voter registered on the electoral roll of a town other than yours.
Find out more here on voting by proxy (in French).

Disclaimer!!

All information has been sourced from elections.europe.eu. if you would like to learn more, click here.