No less than 16 million voters are called to the polls on Sunday for the second round of municipal elections. The poll was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 22, but the coronavirus epidemic led the executive to postpone it more than three months later. This second round is also postponed in Guyana, where the pandemic is still raging actively. The health protocol will also be strict in the polling stations.
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Of the 35,000 or so municipalities in France, the second round will only take place in 4,820 cities, because the first round was enough for a candidate to obtain an absolute majority of votes in the other municipalities. In most municipalities, voters will have the choice between two lists, but there will also be 786 triangular and 155 quadrangular. In 12 municipalities, five lists will even clash.
A special ballot in metropolitan areas
In Paris, Lyon and Marseille, the organization of the poll is different: voters vote by arrondissement or by sector, not directly for the mayor. A third round is necessary. In Paris, for example, the candidate who obtains the highest number of votes this evening will not automatically be the next mayor of Paris. There are 17 elections, corresponding to 17 sectors. This year, the first four arrondissements were combined to form the "Paris center" sector.
The voters vote for the councilors of boroughs, among which the first elected sit on the council of Paris. They are 163 and their number varies according to the demography of the district. The more inhabitants there are, the more Paris advisers there are. There are for example eight elected for "Paris Center" and eighteen for the 15th district, the most populated. These big voters will choose the mayor of Paris in a third round to be held on July 5 at the latest.
Voter registration not compulsory
And in the biggest cities as in the smallest villages, it is necessary to present an identity document to vote: a passport, a driving license or even a vital card. The voter card is recommended but is not compulsory. Voters will have until 6 p.m., 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. to go to the polls, depending on the size of the city. The municipal councils will have to meet between Friday and Sunday next to officially elect their mayor.