Ballots, Envelopes and Voter Cards: Your First French Vote
Phrases to talk about the cards, ballot papers, envelopes and boxes you'll meet when voting in France.
Before an election, French voters receive the candidates' professions de foi (manifesto leaflets) and ballot papers by post, and new voters get a carte électorale with a QR code. At the polling station you pick up an envelope and at least two ballot papers so your choice stays secret, go into the isoloir, and drop the envelope into a transparent urne. There is no blank ballot paper and no postal voting in France: you vote blank with an empty envelope, and if you can't go you give a procuration, which can be started online.
- 1
J'ai reçu ma carte électorale par la poste.
I got my voter card in the post.
- 2
Les professions de foi sont arrivées avec les bulletins.
The candidates' leaflets came with the ballot papers.
- 3
Ma carte électorale n'est pas obligatoire, mais ma pièce d'identité, oui.
My voter card isn't compulsory, but my ID is.
- 4
Prends au moins deux bulletins.
Take at least two ballot papers. (to a friend)
- 5
Comme ça, personne ne sait pour qui tu votes.
That way, nobody knows who you vote for.
- 6
Les bulletins sont sur une table à l'entrée.
The ballot papers are on a table by the entrance.
- 7
Tu prends aussi une enveloppe.
You also take an envelope.
- 8
Il n'y a pas de bulletin blanc.
There's no blank ballot paper.
- 9
Pour voter blanc, on laisse l'enveloppe vide.
To vote blank, you leave the envelope empty.
- 10
Si tu écris sur le bulletin, il est nul.
If you write on the ballot paper, it's void.
- 11
L'urne est transparente.
The ballot box is see-through.
- 12
Certaines communes utilisent des machines à voter.
Some towns use voting machines.
- 13
En France, on ne peut pas voter par correspondance.
You can't vote by post in France.
- 14
On peut faire sa procuration en ligne.
You can apply for a proxy online.
- 15
Les panneaux électoraux sont devant l'école.
The official election boards are in front of the school.
- 16
Chaque candidat a un panneau numéroté.
Each candidate has a numbered board.
- 17
Il y a un QR code sur les nouvelles cartes.
There's a QR code on the new cards.
- 18
Je suis inscrit dans quel bureau de vote ?
Which polling station am I registered at?
- 19
C'est indiqué sur ta carte électorale.
It says so on your voter card.
- 20
Tu peux vérifier ton inscription sur service-public.fr.
You can check your registration online.