Municipal elections 2026: the voting system is changing in many municipalities

A decree published in Official Journal August 28, 2025 set the dates for the next municipal elections. The first round will be held on March 15, 2026 and, if applicable, the second round will be held on March 22.

What voting system in municipalities with less than 1,000 inhabitants?

In municipalities with less than 1,000 inhabitants, in previous municipal elections, you had the option to change the list for which you wanted to vote. The municipal councilors were then elected by majority and multi-member ballot, with two rounds. Candidates could stand alone or in groups; in the second case, the mix was allowed, i.e. you had the option as a voter to remove names from the list you had chosen and then possibly replace them with other people.

Votes were then counted individually by candidate, including those who ran as a group.

From now on, in municipalities with less than 1,000 inhabitants, municipal elections will be held using the same voting method as in other cities. This is a proportional and equal list ballot, with 2 rounds.

The lists must be parity (made up of as many women as men), and respect an alternation a woman / a man or vice versa. The application of this voting method involves the submission of lists of candidates (single applications are no longer possible) and the elimination of mixing. Now, if you add or delete the name of at least one candidate on your ballot, it will be considered void. The same will apply if you change the order of the candidates.

This development is taking place because the voting system applied until then in municipalities with less than 1,000 inhabitants did not allow for the respect of parity in municipal councils.

What voting system in Paris, Lyon and Marseille?

Until then, in Paris, Lyon and Marseille, voters voted in each district or sector (grouping of districts) for a list of councilors. Then, each district or sector council elected, among its members, those who would also sit on the municipal council. The mayor of the city was then elected by the city council. Borough or area councilors who did not sit on the municipal council did not participate in the election of the mayor.

This system was different from other French municipalities, where voters directly elect members of the municipal council.

From now on, in these 3 cities, during the municipal elections, you will be invited to participate in 2 ballots.

• A ballot to elect borough councilors (in Paris and Lyon) or sector (in Marseille). The electoral district is your district or sector; you vote for a list of candidates for your district or sector council.
• A ballot to elect municipal councilors (in Lyon and Marseille), or members of the Paris Council. The electoral district is the commune; you vote for a list of candidates for the municipal council of Lyon or Marseille, or the Council of Paris. Those who are elected then vote to appoint the mayor of the city.

The 2 elections take place on the same day. Councilors are elected according to the rules of proportional list voting, parity at 2 rounds. A candidate may run on both a list for the municipal council and a list for the district or sector council.