An urn, during the municipal elections in Marseille.

(archives) -

CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP

  • Initially scheduled for March, regional and departmental elections have been postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic.

  • On the proposal of the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, who obtained the massive endorsement of the National Assembly on Tuesday, the two ballots will take place on June 20 and 27.

  • Vaccination, powers of attorney, barrier gestures, dematerialized campaign… Faced with the health risk, reinforced protocols will be put in place for the two ballots.

After several days of consultations, Jean Castex obtained, this Tuesday, the massive endorsement of the National Assembly on the maintenance in June of regional and departmental elections, but postponed by one week, on June 20 and 27.

In the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, the government is counting on the establishment of reinforced health protocols and the deployment of vaccination to ensure the "health security" of some 45 million voters.

Campaign, vote, barrier gestures, vaccination…

20 Minutes

explains how the polls will take place.

  • Polls monitored in high places

With particular election, particular organization.

The conduct of these two ballots will be overseen by two structures.

In the first place, a “moral and legal authority”, represented by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, and the Mr. election of the government, Jean-Denis Combrexelle, former president of the litigation section of the Council of State.

The latter will also pilot a "permanent monitoring committee", indicates the Ministry of the Interior to

20 Minutes

.

A second team, "led by a prefect, whose appointment is in progress", will take care of the "logistical and operational" part for the concrete organization of the polls - "how to provide all the tests, etc."

"- continued this same source.

  • The countryside

One thing is certain, this electoral campaign will be "different", affirmed Jean Castex during the debate on the organization of the polls in the National Assembly, Tuesday, before a speech in front of the Senate this Wednesday.

The dematerialization of campaign tools, such as leaflets or candidates' speeches, "will therefore be encouraged as much as possible", added the Prime Minister.

An Internet site will be created by the government in order to allow voters to have "all the professions of faith of the candidates for the two elections".

In addition, "a televised debate, which will also be broadcast on the radio, will be organized between the regional candidates before each of the two rounds of the regional elections," said the head of government.

To mobilize voters, candidates and their campaign teams will be able to move “within the jurisdiction of the electoral district” beyond the 10 km perimeter currently imposed by the confinement in force.

The activists will be able to accompany them "on the basis of a certificate from the candidate" or his financial representative.

Physical meetings and public meetings are not authorized, “inside and outside”, but this measure could be brought to evolve according to the health situation, detailed Jean Castex.

  • Proxies

To reduce contact as much as possible, especially for the most vulnerable people, proxy voting will be simplified.

Each voter will be able to have two proxies, against one usually.

Before going to the police station or the gendarmerie to validate their identity, voters can prepare their proxy "almost completely dematerialized" on the site MaProcuration.gouv.fr.

  • The vote

A health protocol will be put in place “to guarantee compliance with barrier gestures” and health security in polling stations.

"In all the municipalities where it seems relevant", the polling stations may open from 8 am to 8 pm, in order to avoid queues as much as possible.

If it is up to the prefects to set the closing hours of the offices, Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior, "does not want this schedule to exceed 20 hours," he explained to the Assembly.

Wearing a mask will obviously be compulsory for voters and for members of polling stations.

As during the second round of the municipal elections, last June, a marking on the ground will be carried out to maintain the distances between the voters, who will have to sign with their own pen.

Hydroalcoholic gel or a “water point” for washing hands will be available in each polling station.

"It is obvious that we are going to give specific instructions so that the oldest people, with reduced mobility, or with co-morbidities, pass as a priority in the polling stations", added Gérald Darmanin.

  • Assessors

To limit the risk of contamination, the members of the polling stations and officials mobilized on polling day will be identified three weeks before the first round "so that a vaccination can be offered to them".

If they are not vaccinated, they will have to carry out a “PCR or antigen test in the previous 48 hours” or a “self-test just before” the opening of the polling stations, the Prime Minister said.

The State will provide self-test packages to the municipalities, "allowing them to test, on polling day, all the participants in the voting operations who would not have had other solutions".

  • Counting

The counting of the two ballots will be held simultaneously "in two separate rooms or in a sufficiently large room", and could be authorized "outside under certain conditions, for example in the school yard".

The members of the bureau and assessors will be able to participate "if it turns out to be necessary".

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  • Departmental elections

  • Covid 19

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  • Regional elections

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