2026 French Municipal Elections: Key Deadlines and Procedures for Candidate Submissions

The 2026 municipal elections in France are slated for March 15 and 22, with detailed candidacy submission procedures outlined for prospective candidates. According to official guidelines from the Bas-Rhin prefecture, applications for the first round must be submitted in person between February 9 and 20, 2026, with an additional period from February 23 to 26. For candidates advancing to the second round, application submissions are allowed only on March 16 and 17, 2026.

Applicants are required to appear in person at their respective prefectures or sub-prefectures—such as the Strasbourg prefecture or the Manche prefecture in Saint-Lô—and cannot submit applications via email. Specific Cerfa forms must be completed, accompanied by original supporting documents; incomplete or non-compliant applications will be rejected. Appointment bookings, recommended to streamline submissions, open on January 20, 2026, accessible through prefectural websites.

The Manche prefecture clarified that it accepts applications from all municipalities within the department, with appointment scheduling available at multiple locations including Saint-Lô, Avranches, and Cherbourg. This standardized process ensures uniformity across French regions.

Moreover, for voter participation, citizens must register on electoral lists by February 6, 2026, with certain exceptions allowing registrations up to March 5. Voters must present valid photo ID at polling stations. The Ministry of the Interior has introduced fully digital management of voting proxies using the France Identité digital ID, facilitating easier voting rights management in these elections.

These measures aim to ensure a smooth, transparent electoral process, emphasizing the necessity for timely and compliant candidacy submissions ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.