It’s the last straight line. After choosing to re-elect Emmanuel Macron on April 24, some 48.7 million voters registered on the electoral lists must elect the 577 deputies of the National Assembly. Applications had to be submitted no later than May 20 at 6 p.m. The official campaign started on Monday 30 May. To clear that up, here are the official voting rules.
Who can vote?
French people aged 18 or over, registered on the electoral lists and enjoying their civil and political rights are able to vote. According to INSEE, the electorate has just over 48 million people. On the day of the vote, it is compulsory to present one of the following documents: national identity card, passport, vital card with photograph, or any other document proving one’s identity.
How do you know your constituency?
The 577 constituencies where the various candidates are running are the same as in 2017. To find your constituency, enter your postal address in the search bar below.
What are the voting rules?
The ballot is uninominal, majority and in two rounds. To be elected deputy in the first round, a candidate must garner 50% of the votes, corresponding to at least 25% of those registered. To remain in the second round, a candidate must gather at least 12.5% registered, whatever his score. There may therefore be more than two qualified candidates for the second round. On June 19, the candidate with the most votes is elected. The government needs 289 deputies to enjoy an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
What are the criteria to be met in order to be a candidate?
To be a candidate, you must be French, be at least 18 years old, be registered on the electoral lists and enjoy your civic rights. The candidate is not obliged to be domiciled in the constituency where he is running. No one may be a candidate in several constituencies.
The applicant must not be in a situation of ineligibility, as defined by the Electoral Code. Ineligibility concerns in particular persons placed under guardianship or curatorship, and those who have not completed their national service. It is pronounced by the administrative judge or the Constitutional Council. It also affects a certain number of functions (prefect, defender of rights, general controller of places of deprivation of liberty).
What are the campaign finance rules?
Expenditure is capped at 38,000 euros, plus 0.15 euros per inhabitant of the constituency. On average, a constituency has around 120,500 inhabitants, according to INSEE. The State reimburses propaganda expenses (official leaflets, posters on electoral panels and ballots), as well as a lump sum equal to 47.5% of the expenditure ceiling to each candidate who obtains at least 5% of the votes cast in the first round. . The amounts incurred for the travel of the candidate are subject to other caps.
A company cannot contribute to a campaign. Donations from natural persons are limited to 4,600 euros per election. The funds collected to finance the campaign are registered in an account specially opened and managed by a financial agent (person or association).
The campaign account traces the candidate’s income and expenditure, as well as the benefits in kind granted to him. It cannot be in deficit. It is sent to the National Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political Funding (CNCCFP) two months after the election.