Electoral Proxy: Vote by Proxy in 2026

Electoral proxy allows any registered voter to entrust their vote to a trusted person when unable to vote in person on election day. Whether for professional reasons, medical conditions, reduced mobility, or living abroad, this mechanism guarantees the effective exercise of voting rights. Since 2022, the maProcuration.gouv.fr platform has greatly simplified the process by enabling online declaration without a prior visit to a police station or gendarme post. This guide explains in detail the rules applicable in 2026, deadlines to respect, and pitfalls to avoid.

What is electoral proxy and who can use it?

Electoral proxy is a legal act by which a voter — the principal — authorizes another voter — the proxy holder — to vote on their behalf in one or more specific elections. This mechanism is governed by articles L.71 to L.78 of the French Electoral Code.

Conditions for granting a proxy

To establish a valid proxy, the principal must:

• Be registered on the electoral lists of a French municipality;
• Justify an inability to vote in person (absence for professional reasons, health status, disability situation, residence abroad, training, vacation, etc.);
• Designate a proxy holder who is themselves registered on the electoral lists of the same municipality since the 2019 reform (Law No. 2019-1269 of December 2, 2019).

Since this reform, the proxy holder is no longer required to be registered in the same polling station, only in the same municipality. This is a significant advance that has made it easier for millions of voters to use proxy voting.

Who can be a proxy holder?

Any adult French voter registered on the electoral lists can be a proxy holder. The same proxy holder can hold two proxies simultaneously, of which only one 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 in 2026

Launched experimentally in 2021 and generalized since 2022, the maProcuration.gouv.fr service is now the primary and recommended method for submitting an electoral proxy request in France. In 2026, all national and local elections are covered by this platform.

Online declaration: how does it work?

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

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 voter's identity without physical presentation of documents.

1. Information entry: The principal provides their details, municipality of registration, election(s) concerned, and their proxy holder's information (name, surname, date of birth, municipality of registration).

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

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

Visiting the police station, gendarme post, or town hall: what do you need to bring?

When visiting in person 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 was initiated online.

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

Deadlines to respect for electoral proxy in 2026

Respecting deadlines is crucial: a proxy established too late may not be considered by electoral services.

Request submission deadline

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

For the 2026 elections (partial municipal elections, local referendums, or possible national elections), it is strongly recommended to initiate 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 can be established:

• For a single election (valid only for the first or second round specified, or for both);
• For a determined duration of up to 3 years (since the law of December 27, 2019), thus allowing coverage of several successive elections without repeated procedures.

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

Revocation of a proxy

The principal can revoke their proxy at any time, including on election day, by presenting 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 citizens established outside France

French citizens registered at consulates and embassies can grant a proxy to a voter registered in the same consular constituency. The process can be carried out:

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

French citizens abroad received special attention in Law No. 2023-1380 of December 30, 2023, relating to the simplification of electoral procedures abroad, which extended the possibilities for dematerialized voting in certain contexts.

Territories with early voting

New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, and the Antilles vote with a time difference requiring a specific calendar. Voters in these territories should refer to local prefectoral decrees for exact proxy deposit deadlines.

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

Frequently encountered problems and practical solutions

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

Since the 2019 law, the proxy holder must be registered in the same municipality (not just the same polling station). If your proxy holder lives in another municipality, you will need to find a local proxy holder or change their electoral registration before the deadline (December 31 of the year preceding the election as a general rule).

What happens if the proxy holder forgets to vote?

The proxy holder is not under any legal obligation to vote on behalf of the principal. There is no penalty under the Electoral Code in case of the proxy holder's abstention. The relationship is based on personal trust, hence the importance of choosing a reliable and available proxy holder.

Is proxy voting compatible with electronic voting?

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

In the broader context of dematerializing official acts, qualified electronic signature plays an increasingly important role in securing business mandates and proxies. To understand the different levels of digital signature, our comprehensive 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 law firms, which addresses the specifics of the probative value of dematerialized acts.

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

Applicable legal framework for electoral proxy

Electoral proxy in France is part of a precise legislative corpus, understanding which is essential to avoid any nullity of the process.

Electoral Code: foundational texts

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

• Eligibility conditions for the principal and proxy holder (art. L.71);
• The limit of two proxies per proxy holder (art. L.73);
• Methods of receiving the proxy by judicial police officers and authorized officials (art. L.72);
• Conditions for revocation (art. L.75).

Articles R.72 to R.80 of the Electoral Code (regulatory part) clarify the forms, deadlines for transmission to town halls, and methods for retaining proxies.

Law No. 2019-1269 of December 2, 2019

This law eliminated the requirement for the proxy holder to be registered in the same polling station as the principal, requiring only the same municipality. It also extended the acceptable reasons for granting a proxy, making them non-exhaustive: any voter can now grant a proxy without having to justify a particular reason since Law No. 2022-217 of February 21, 2022 (the 3DS law), which eliminated the requirement to justify.

Law No. 2022-217 of February 21, 2022 (3DS Law)

This law relating to differentiation, decentralization, deconcentration, and simplification eliminated the obligation to justify a reason for establishing an electoral proxy. Since 2022, any voter can freely delegate their vote without providing supporting documents. This major simplification was accompanied by the generalized rollout of maProcuration.gouv.fr.

Digital authentication and FranceConnect+

The use of FranceConnect+ for online declaration is based on eIDAS Regulation No. 910/2014 of the European Parliament and Council, which establishes levels of guarantee for electronic identification means (substantial and high). FranceConnect+ corresponds to the high level, guaranteeing strong authentication in line with European digital identity requirements.

Data protection

The collection of data from principals and proxy holders via maProcuration.gouv.fr is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) No. 2016/679. The Interior Ministry acts as the data controller. Data is retained for the duration necessary to process proxies, then archived in accordance with legal obligations for retaining electoral archives (5 years after the election according to CNIL guidelines).

Penalties for fraud

Article L.113 of the Electoral Code punishes with two years' imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros any person who obtains a proxy through fraud or misappropriates a proxy for fraudulent purposes. Attempted fraud is punished with the same penalties.

Usage scenarios: electoral proxy in different contexts

Scenario 1 — An employee with frequent professional travel

A sales manager making professional trips throughout Europe approximately 15 days per month uses maProcuration.gouv.fr to establish a 3-year proxy in favor 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 gendarme post when returning on the weekend. Over 4 elections held during 2024-2026, they were able to exercise their voting right 100% of the time without ever changing their professional travel arrangements, compared to an estimated abstention rate of 60-70% for voters in situations of intense professional mobility according to post-election analyses by DILA.

Scenario 2 — A hospitalized voter or person with reduced mobility

A person hospitalized for a scheduled procedure who cannot travel on election day requests, through a close caregiver, the dispatch of a judicial police officer to their bedside. Thanks to article L.72 of the Electoral Code, the officer travels with the necessary materials to receive the proxy on site. The proxy is transmitted the same day to the relevant town hall. This scenario, which represents approximately 8 to 10% of proxies established according to Interior Ministry statistics, highlights the importance of contacting the gendarme post or police station at least 5 days before the election to arrange the visit.

Scenario 3 — A community of expatriates in a consular zone

A group of approximately 200 French citizens residing in the same consular zone in a Southeast Asian country collectively organize 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 deadlines (i.e., 70%), compared to an average consular participation rate of 35-40% observed during previous elections according to reports from the Directorate for French Citizens Abroad (DFE). This 30-point participation gain illustrates the impact of awareness of digital tools on the exercise of voting rights abroad.

Conclusion

Electoral proxy is an essential mechanism for guaranteeing the exercise of voting rights to all citizens, regardless of their situation. In 2026, the maProcuration.gouv.fr platform makes the process faster and more accessible than ever through online declaration and FranceConnect+ authentication. Key points to remember: designate a proxy holder registered in your municipality, respect the submission deadline (no later than D-2 of the election), and plan ahead to avoid periods of high demand. The ability to establish a proxy valid for up to 3 years also simplifies management over several successive elections.

This logic of secure and dematerialized delegation is found in many acts of professional life. To secure your business mandates, power delegations, and company proxies with tools compliant with eIDAS, discover Certyneo's solutions or create your free account.