France Expands 100% Online Electoral Proxy Service for 2026 Municipal Elections

As France prepares for its municipal elections on March 15 and 22, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior has announced the nationwide rollout of a fully digital system for establishing and cancelling electoral proxies. This system leverages the France Identité digital identity platform, enabling voters to assign a proxy to vote on their behalf entirely online if they cannot attend the polls.

To access the service, eligible voters must have a certified digital identity and a new identity card. Certification involves downloading the France Identité app, following digital certification steps including email confirmation, scanning their identity card, and visiting a designated mairie to validate identity using a QR code. Since March 31, 2025, certification can also be done when obtaining a new identity card. Voters without a certified digital identity can still submit online proxy requests but must validate them in person at a police station or gendarmerie.

The fully dematerialized process proved successful during the 2024 European and legislative elections, with over 100,000 proxies created online, accounting for 75% of all proxies established via the Maprocuration service.

Additionally, since January 1, 2022, voters can designate a proxy registered in a different commune or consulate; however, that proxy must vote in the polling station assigned to the voter. This flexibility aims to simplify voting arrangements for citizens with diverse mobility needs.

This expansion of digital proxy voting underscores the government's commitment to modernizing electoral participation and making democratic processes more accessible through digital means, enhancing convenience and security for voters across France.