In France, to vote one must be at least 18 years old and registered on the electoral roll at the municipal office of their place of residence. Voting is done in person at designated polling stations, mainly in town halls or other municipal buildings. The voter presents proof of identity and receives pre- printed paper ballots for each candidate or list. The voter enters a private booth, places the chosen ballot in an envelope, and deposits it in the ballot box. The process is manual with paper ballots; mail-in voting is not allowed. Proxy voting is available and since April 2024, there is an electronic procedure to appoint a proxy using certified digital identity verification. Foreign nationals from EU countries residing in France can vote in municipal and European elections if they register on specific electoral rolls. Voting rights also extend to French citizens living abroad who must register with consular offices to vote from abroad. The presidential election uses a two- round system if no candidate wins a majority in the first round. Election-day voting etiquette involves signing the electoral register and stamping the voter registration card after voting.
