Electoral proxy: voting by proxy in 2026

Electoral proxy allows any elector registered on electoral rolls to entrust their vote to a trusted person when they are unable to travel on polling day. Whether for professional reasons, medical reasons, reduced mobility or residence abroad, this mechanism guarantees the effective exercise of the right to vote. Since 2022, the maProcuration.gouv.fr platform has greatly simplified the process by allowing online declaration without prior travel to a police station or gendarmerie. This guide explains in detail the rules applicable in 2026, the deadlines to observe and the pitfalls to avoid.

What is electoral proxy and who can use it?

Electoral proxy is a legal act by which an elector — the principal — authorises another elector — the representative — to vote on their behalf in one or more specific polls. This mechanism is governed by articles L.71 to L.78 of the French Electoral Code.

Conditions for granting proxy

To establish a valid proxy, the principal must:

• Be registered on the electoral roll of a French municipality;
• Justify an inability to vote in person (absence for professional reasons, health condition, disability situation, residence abroad, training, holidays, etc.);
• Designate a representative themselves registered on the electoral roll of the same municipality since the 2019 reform (law n°2019-1269 of 2 December 2019).

Since this reform, the representative is no longer required to be registered in the same polling station, only in the same municipality. This is a significant advance that has facilitated the use of proxy for millions of electors.

Who can be a representative?

Any major French elector registered on electoral rolls can be a representative. A single representative can hold two proxies simultaneously, only one of which may be established in France (the other may be established from abroad). This limit is set by article L.73 of the Electoral Code.

The maProcuration.gouv.fr service: how it works and steps in 2026

Launched experimentally in 2021 and generalised since 2022, the maProcuration.gouv.fr service is now the main and recommended way to file an electoral proxy application in France. In 2026, all national and local polls are covered by this platform.

Online declaration: how does it work?

Online declaration via maProcuration.gouv.fr takes place in three main stages:

1. Connection with FranceConnect+: The principal identifies themselves via FranceConnect+ (high security level, compatible with the tax authority mobile app, Ameli, etc.). This strong authentication guarantees the elector's identity without physical presentation of documents.

1. Information entry: The principal provides their details, municipality of registration, the poll(s) concerned and their representative's information (surname, first name, date of birth, municipality of registration).

1. Validation at town hall or police station: After online submission, the principal receives a request code which they present to the judicial police officer or authorised official at an equipped town hall. This physical visit takes less than 5 minutes — there is no longer any need to complete a paper form on site.

This procedure has reduced average processing time from 45 minutes to approximately 5-10 minutes according to feedback gathered by the Ministry of the Interior during the 2022 legislative elections.

Visit to police station, gendarmerie or town hall: what must you bring?

During the physical visit to validate the proxy, the principal must present:

• A valid identity document (national identity card, passport);
• Their maProcuration request code (received by email or SMS);
• No paper form is required if the process has been initiated online.

If the principal absolutely cannot travel (hospitalisation, severe disability), they can request that a judicial police officer visit them at their home or place of care, in accordance with article L.72 of the Electoral Code.

Deadlines to observe for electoral proxy in 2026

Meeting deadlines is crucial: a proxy established too late may not be taken into account by electoral services.

Deadline for filing the request

As a general rule, the proxy must be submitted to the principal's town hall no later than the Friday before the poll (i.e. D-2 if voting takes place on Sunday). This deadline takes into account the administrative processing time needed to update the poll lists.

For the 2026 elections (partial municipal elections, local referendums or potential national polls), it is strongly advised to start the process at least 15 days in advance to avoid any risk related to extended processing times during periods of high demand.

Duration of validity of a proxy

A proxy may be established:

• For a single poll (valid only for the first or second round designated, or for both);
• For a determined duration of up to 3 years (since the law of 27 December 2019), thus allowing several successive polls to be covered without repeated process.

This multi-year option is particularly useful for expatriates, those with permanent professional mobility or those suffering from chronic conditions limiting their travel.

Revocation of a proxy

The principal can revoke their proxy at any time, including on polling day, by appearing directly at their polling station with their identity document. In this case, the proxy is cancelled and the principal votes themselves. Online revocation via maProcuration.gouv.fr is also possible before the closing date.

Special cases: French citizens abroad and overseas territories

French nationals established outside France

French nationals registered at consulates and embassies can grant proxy to an elector registered in the same consular district. The process can be carried out:

• Online via maProcuration.gouv.fr if the elector has access to FranceConnect+;
• Directly with the competent embassy or consulate, which has officials authorised to collect proxies.

French citizens abroad were the subject of particular attention in law n°2023-1380 of 30 December 2023 relating to the simplification of electoral procedures abroad, which expanded the possibilities for dematerialised voting in certain contexts.

Early voting territories

New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and the Caribbean territories vote with a time difference requiring a specific calendar. Electors in these territories should refer to local prefectural orders for exact deadlines for filing proxies.

For more information on the legal forms of mandate and associated documentary management tools, consult our complete guide on proxy and mandate, which also covers notarial and commercial proxies.

Common problems and practical solutions

My representative is not registered in my municipality: what should I do?

Since the 2019 law, the representative must be registered in the same municipality (and no longer the same polling station). If your representative lives in another municipality, you will need to find a local representative or change their registration on the electoral roll before the deadline (31 December of the year preceding the poll as a general rule).

What happens if the representative forgets to vote?

The representative is not subject to any legal obligation to vote on behalf of the principal. There is no sanction provided for in the Electoral Code in case of abstention by the representative. The relationship is based on personal trust, hence the importance of choosing a reliable and available representative.

Is proxy compatible with electronic voting?

For polls allowing electronic voting (particularly certain consular polls), a proxy cannot be exercised via online voting: the representative must physically attend the designated polling station or consulate. Electronic voting is strictly personal and non-delegable.

In the broader context of the dematerialisation of official acts, qualified electronic signature plays an increasingly important role in securing mandates and professional proxies. To understand the different levels of digital signature, our complete guide to electronic signature is a useful reference — particularly for companies managing power delegations or corporate mandates.

Legal professionals dealing with notarial proxies or signature delegations will also find practical information on our page dedicated to electronic signature for legal firms, which addresses the specifics of the probative value of dematerialised acts.

Finally, for companies wishing to automate the management of their internal mandates or signature delegations, the electronic signature ROI calculator allows you to estimate the productivity gains achievable compared to traditional paper processes.

Legal framework applicable to electoral proxy

Electoral proxy in France is part of a precise legislative body, whose understanding is essential to avoid any invalidity of the process.

Electoral Code: founding texts

Articles L.71 to L.78 of the Electoral Code constitute the legal foundation of electoral proxy. They define:

• The eligibility conditions for the principal and representative (art. L.71);
• The limit of two proxies per representative (art. L.73);
• The procedures for collecting proxy by judicial police officers and authorised officials (art. L.72);
• The conditions for revocation (art. L.75).

Articles R.72 to R.80 of the Electoral Code (regulatory part) specify the forms, deadlines for transmission to town halls and procedures for storing proxies.

Law n°2019-1269 of 2 December 2019

This law removed the requirement for the representative to be registered in the same polling station as the principal, requiring only the same municipality. It also extended the acceptable reasons for granting proxy, making them non-limiting: any elector can now grant proxy without having to justify any particular reason since law n°2022-217 of 21 February 2022 (the 3DS law), which removed the requirement to justify.

Law n°2022-217 of 21 February 2022 (3DS law)

This law relating to differentiation, decentralisation, deconcentration and simplification removed the obligation to justify a reason for establishing an electoral proxy. Since 2022, any elector can freely delegate their vote without providing justification documents. This major simplification was accompanied by the generalised deployment of maProcuration.gouv.fr.

Digital authentication and FranceConnect+

The use of FranceConnect+ for online declaration is based on eIDAS regulation n°910/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council, which establishes the guarantee levels of electronic identification means (substantial and high). FranceConnect+ corresponds to the high level, guaranteeing strong authentication compliant with European digital identity requirements.

Personal data protection

The collection of data from principals and representatives via maProcuration.gouv.fr is subject to the General Regulation on Data Protection (GDPR) n°2016/679. The Ministry of the Interior acts as the data controller. Data is retained for the duration necessary to process the proxies, then archived in accordance with legal obligations to retain electoral archives (5 years after the poll according to CNIL guidelines).

Sanctions for fraud

Article L.113 of the Electoral Code punishes with two years imprisonment and a fine of €15,000 any person who obtains a proxy by using forged documents or diverting a proxy for fraudulent purposes. Attempted offences are punished with the same penalties.

Usage scenarios: electoral proxy in different contexts

Scenario 1 — An employee on frequent professional travel

A sales manager making professional trips throughout Europe about 15 days a month uses maProcuration.gouv.fr to establish a proxy valid for 3 years in favour of their spouse, registered in the same municipality. The online process took them less than 10 minutes, followed by a 5-minute visit to the local gendarmerie on their return the following weekend. Over 4 polls organised over the 2024-2026 period, they were thus able to exercise their right to vote 100% of the time without ever changing their professional travel, compared to an estimated abstention rate of 60-70% for electors in situations of intense professional mobility according to post-poll analyses by DILA.

Scenario 2 — An elector who is hospitalised or has reduced mobility

A person hospitalised for a scheduled procedure who cannot travel on polling day requests, via a nearby carer, that a judicial police officer visit them. Thanks to article L.72 of the Electoral Code, the official travels with the necessary equipment to collect the proxy on site. The proxy is transmitted the same day to the municipality concerned. This scenario, which represents approximately 8 to 10% of proxies established according to Ministry of the Interior statistics, highlights the importance of contacting the gendarmerie or police station at least 5 days before the poll to arrange the visit.

Scenario 3 — A community of expatriates in a consular zone

A group of approximately 200 French nationals residing in the same consular zone in a South-East Asian country collectively organise their proxies during legislative elections. A local consular association informs its members of deadlines and procedures via maProcuration.gouv.fr. Of the 200 people concerned, 140 manage to establish their proxy within the deadlines (i.e. 70%), compared to an average consular participation rate of 35-40% observed during the previous polls according to reports from the Directorate of French Nationals Abroad (DFE). This 30-point participation gain illustrates the impact of raising awareness about digital tools on the exercise of the right to vote abroad.

Conclusion

Electoral proxy is an essential mechanism to guarantee the exercise of the right to vote to all citizens, regardless of their situation. In 2026, the maProcuration.gouv.fr platform makes the process faster and more accessible than ever thanks to online declaration and FranceConnect+ authentication. The key points to remember: designate a representative registered in your municipality, respect the filing deadline (no later than D-2 of the poll), and plan ahead to avoid periods of high demand. The possibility of establishing a proxy valid for up to 3 years also simplifies management over several successive polls.

This logic of secure and dematerialised delegation is found in many professional acts. To secure your mandates, power delegations and corporate proxies with eIDAS-compliant tools, discover Certyneo solutions or create your free account.