I move: do I have to re-register to vote?

How do you verify your electoral situation?

First, you can check that you are registered to vote and find your polling station. Just go to the site Service-Public.fr and use the online service " Questioning your electoral situation ”.

Should you re-register to vote after a move?

Three cases of relocation:

1. You move but remain in the same commune:

Changing the district or simply the neighborhood may result in changing the polling station (but this is not mandatory). It is essential to report your change of address to its mayor’s office so that it can update the voters’ lists of the municipality and request an electoral map on the new address.

In order to avoid any deletion from the electoral rolls, you must re-register in case of a move. If you do not re-register in the municipality in which you have just moved, you may not be able to vote in a future election.

2. You move to another municipality or overseas:

In this case, you must register on a new voters list and change polling stations. You must contact the mayor of your new home and inform her of the change of address and register on this new voters list. It is possible to carry out this formality:

• directly to the civil registry office of its mayor;
• via an online voter registration form;
• by mail.

3. You move abroad:

• you can request your registration at Register of French outside France and at the same time your registration on the consular list of electors (automatic deletion from the list of electors on which you were previously registered);
• you do not wish to be registered in the Register of French outside France but you can request your registration on the consular voters list directly from your consulate (automatic deletion from the electoral list on which you were previously registered).

Registration on the electoral lists allows you, from the foreigner, to vote for the French elections: presidential, referendum, European, legislative, consular).

This entry in the Register of French outside France is free and valid for 5 years.

Should we wait until the polling periods for a re-registration?

You do not have to wait for a polling period to re-register to vote. It is even strongly recommended to do so outside of voting periods. Please note that you will only be able to vote if you have registered at least six weeks before the 1^er ballot.

Derogations from this six-week principle exist:

• young people who are 18 years of age at the latest on the eve of the poll may vote for it;
• persons who acquire french nationality may also be subject to derogatory registration.

For more information, see “your rights” of the Public Service website.

For a mutation, for example, or for a few very specific cases (provided for in theArticle L. 30 of the Electoral Code), the time limit for registration on the lists of electors may be extended to the tenth day before the first ballot.

Think about the power of attorney

In France, it is not possible to vote remotely or before election day. However, you can vote by proxy (maproxy.gouv.fr).

How does it work?

1. Recover from your agent, either his or her voter number and his date of birth, which is all his civil status data and voting commune.
2. Make your power of attorney request online with ease.
3. Go to the police station, gendarmerie or consulate to have your identity verified and validate your power of attorney.
4. You will be notified by email as soon as your power of attorney is accepted.