Key Details and Changes for the 2026 French Municipal Elections

France is preparing for its municipal elections scheduled for March 15 and 22, 2026, with several important updates regarding candidate guidelines and the voting system. Candidates can submit their applications between February 2 and 26, 2026, with the deadline for candidacy submissions set at February 26, according to official prefecture announcements. All French citizens who meet the eligibility criteria, including nationality, age, and legal capacity, can stand for municipal and community elections. Additionally, European Union nationals residing in France are permitted to vote and run as candidates but are excluded from holding mayoral or deputy mayoral positions.

One significant legal change affecting the 2026 elections is the alignment of voting procedures in smaller communes. Municipalities with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants will adopt the same two-round list voting system used in larger communes. This system requires candidate lists to be gender parity-compliant, alternating between men and women. If a list wins an absolute majority in the first round, it secures half of the council seats, with the remainder distributed proportionally among lists that earn at least 5% of votes. Lists proceeding to the second round must have obtained at least 10% of votes, and candidates may be added from other lists that meet a 5% threshold.

Moreover, voters will retain the option to vote by proxy, with the new possibility to arrange proxy voting digitally via the France Identité service, streamlining participation for those unable to vote in person.

Candidates and voters are reminded that the official campaign period begins on March 2, 2026. For candidate support, regions such as Doubs have made available essential resources including legal decrees, application forms, a candidate handbook, and financing guidelines to assist with electoral preparations.

These updates mark an effort to harmonize electoral procedures across all communes, bolster gender equality in candidate representation, and facilitate voter participation ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.