The first round of the 2026 French municipal elections saw a national voter turnout of 48.9% by 5 PM, marking a significant increase compared to the 38.8% recorded at the same time in the 2020 elections held during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this participation rate remains lower than pre-Covid elections, such as 2014.
Key points
- The 5 PM turnout was 10 percentage points higher than the 2020 figure.
- Turnout was notably higher in Corsica and the South of France, with Corse-du-Sud at 72.4%.
- Île-de-France departments, like Seine-Saint-Denis (37%), showed lower mobilization.
- Final participation is projected by pollsters to be between 56% and 58.5%.
- The election is considered a test one year ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly for the Rassemblement National (RN).
- Polling suggested a potential record abstention rate for local elections outside the Covid period.
Why it matters
The municipal elections serve as a crucial political barometer, testing the dynamics of the major political blocs, including the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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