The National Assembly adopted a series of technical changes concerning the rules of the presidential election of 2022. Main new features: postal voting for detainees, "deterritorialized" proxies and a period of at least ten weeks to collect sponsorships .
Adjust the rules of the 2022 presidential election more than a year in advance: the National Assembly on Tuesday adopted a series of technical changes for this election after rejecting the idea of large-scale changes.
The four articles of the draft organic law "relating to the election of the President of the Republic" were adopted at first reading by show of hands in the early evening.
Main new features: postal voting for detainees, "deterritorialized" proxies and at least ten weeks to collect sponsorships.
A "technical update"
An attempt by insubordinate France to give more scope to this text had been rebutted in committee last week.
LFI proposed in particular to facilitate the financing of campaigns by citizens' loans or to open the sponsorship of candidates by 150,000 people and no longer only to elected officials.
This update of the electoral provisions ahead of each election of the Head of State constitutes an "update of technical significance", declared the Minister Delegate for Citizenship Marlène Schiappa.
>> READ ALSO -
Presidential: the match of the contenders is launched!
It is, however, "an important text because it concerns the most structuring election of our institutions," she added.
Marlène Schiappa called on deputies to be "vigilant" in the face of any "innovation" which could encourage fraud.
The rapporteur Alain Tourret (LREM) also warned against any modification of the rules which "could raise questions from citizens" on the "sincerity of the ballot".
Voting by correspondence of inmates, "deterritorialized" proxies
The text provides that proxies can be "deterritorialized": it will be possible for a principal to choose a representative registered in a municipality other than his own.
The decree convening the presidential election must be published at least ten weeks before the first round, a period considered sufficient to guarantee the time necessary to collect sponsorships.
Another provision requires candidates to file their campaign accounts electronically with the National Commission responsible for reviewing them.
The text also provides for a postal voting system for detained persons, already tested in the last European elections.
Various technical provisions are also planned for the vote of French expatriates, with in particular the elimination of the obligation to attest on the honor of its inability to go to the polls to be able to vote by proxy.
Elected officials position themselves for an ambitious electoral reform
Several MPs have called for an ambitious electoral reform to counter the rise in abstention and disinterest in public life among the electorate.
Marietta Karamanli (PS) thus wished "a fundamental work leading to important reforms".
Blandine Brocard (Modem) suggested that another text could open up "avenues" for reform, in particular an "extension" of postal voting.
Bastien Lachaud (LFI) called for the end of the "presidential monarch" in accordance with the "Sixth Republic" demanded by his formation.