How French Elections Work
Ask how French elections work, from registering to vote to the two rounds, and get through polling day.
French elections are held on Sundays, and the presidential and most legislative races use two rounds two weeks apart. You must be on the electoral roll (listes électorales), which you can join online on service-public.fr; on the day you show ID at your bureau de vote, take ballots into the isoloir, put one in an envelope and drop it in the transparent urn while an official says « A voté ». If you can't be there you can give a procuration to another voter. EU citizens living in France can vote in municipal and European elections only.
- 1
Comment ça marche, la présidentielle ici ?
How does the presidential election work here?
- 2
Il y a deux tours.
There are two rounds.
- 3
Les deux premiers candidats passent au second tour.
The top two candidates go through to the second round.
- 4
Il faut s'inscrire pour voter ?
Do you need to register to vote?
- 5
On s'inscrit sur les listes électorales en ligne.
You register on the electoral roll online.
- 6
Les élections ont toujours lieu le dimanche.
Elections are always on a Sunday.
- 7
Tu vas voter pour qui ?
Who are you going to vote for?
- 8
Ça, c'est secret !
That's private!
- 9
Le taux de participation était très bas.
Turnout was very low.
- 10
Beaucoup de gens se sont abstenus.
A lot of people abstained.
- 11
Certains votent blanc.
Some people cast a blank vote.
- 12
Je ne serai pas là dimanche, je vais faire une procuration.
I can't be there on Sunday, I'll vote by proxy.
- 13
Où se trouve mon bureau de vote ?
Where is my polling station?
- 14
C'est écrit sur votre carte électorale.
It's written on your voter card.
- 15
Votre pièce d'identité, s'il vous plaît.
Your ID, please. (at the polling station)
- 16
Prenez au moins deux bulletins.
Take at least two ballot papers.
Tip: So nobody can see your choice.
- 17
Vous devez passer par l'isoloir.
You have to go into the voting booth.
- 18
Les résultats tombent à 20 heures.
The results are announced at 8 p.m.
- 19
Le président est élu pour cinq ans.
The President is elected for five years.
- 20
Est-ce que les étrangers peuvent voter aux municipales ?
Can foreigners vote in the local elections?