Polling Stations Open Across France for Uncertain 2026 Municipal Election First Round

Polling stations across mainland France opened on March 15 for the first round of the 2026 municipal elections. Voters were urged to verify their designated polling station on their electoral card or online, with polling hours generally from 8 AM until between 6 PM and 8 PM depending on locality, as reported by Le Figaro. Results for smaller municipalities are expected from 8 PM, with larger cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille reporting later in the evening, subject to electoral law requirements that results be withheld until all stations close.

The elections are largely expected to decide mayors in the majority of communes by Sunday, but the outcome remains uncertain in many large cities, where intense negotiations over alliances between voting rounds are anticipated. France 24’s James André provided on-the-ground reports from a polling station in Meudon, near Paris.

Notably, the city of Nice experienced challenges due to heavy rain on Saturday, damaging between 20 to 25% of ballots during transport to polling stations. The Alpes-Maritimes prefecture has initiated an emergency reprinting of ballots and assured that the voting process will proceed normally on Sunday. Out of 256 polling stations in Nice, 111 require partial resupply of ballots to serve the city’s 228,006 registered voters.

Despite weather disruptions in some locations, the first round of the elections is underway with voter participation starting smoothly across mainland France. The uncertain political landscape, especially in metropolitan areas, sets the stage for closely watched results and possible inter-round political maneuvering.