In the year before the election, you can grant a proxy at any time in two ways. With the upcoming local elections on 15 and 22 March 2026, it will be possible to grant and revoke proxies entirely electronically using a high-level digital identity.
Information on the municipality's website: https://www.vendays-montalivet.fr/procuration/
The French government website provides very clear information – we have translated some passages below.
https://www.elections.interieur.gouv.fr/comprendre-elections/comment-je-vote/vote-par-procuration
For local elections, any eligible voter can grant a proxy vote. The proxy form (procuration) can be completed online on the French government's website, in French or English: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R12675
A very clear PDF document entitled Version Facile à Lire et à Comprendre - Le vote par procuration (Easy to read and understand version - Voting by proxy) can also be downloaded from the website. As the text is only available in French, here is a rough, non-binding translation (without the nice pictures). We have added passages in italics.
How can you vote by post?
Machine translation from https://www.elections.interieur.gouv.fr/sites/elections/files/2024-05/VersionFacileLireetComprendre-Levoteparprocuration.pdf
In France, every voter must go to the polls in person. If you are unable to vote on election day, for example
because you are working or on holiday, ill or disabled,
you can ask someone else to vote on your behalf. This is known as proxy voting.
You must grant proxy voting rights to someone you trust. This means that this person will vote for the candidate of your choice.
How does voting by proxy work?
The person granting the proxy is called the principal.
The person receiving the proxy is called the proxy holder.
You can grant a proxy to a proxy holder who is not registered on the electoral roll in your municipality. However, your proxy holder must vote on your behalf at your polling station. If you change the municipality in which you are registered on the electoral roll, e.g. because you are moving house, your proxy remains valid.
When can you grant a proxy?
You can grant a proxy one year before the election and up to one day before the election.
How do you grant a proxy?
To grant a proxy, you must know your proxy's national voter number. This number is noted on each voter's polling card.
You can also find it on the service-public website.
Apply for your proxy online
You must visit the website Maprocuration.gouv.fr.
You must fill in an application form. Your application will be registered. You will receive a registration number. Once your application has been registered, you have two months to have it confirmed:
at a police station,
at a gendarmerie,
at the consulate if you live abroad.
You must present the following:
your registration number,
proof of identity, for example your identity card or passport.
Submit your application in person (in France)
at a police station
at a gendarmerie
at the local court. You can choose the court closest to your home or workplace
at a consulate: this is the government agency that looks after French citizens living abroad. For example, the French consulate in Germany looks after French citizens living in Germany.
at a publicly accessible location, such as a town hall. The prefect of the department decides on the list of locations and opening hours.
You can:
download and print the administrative form called CERFA No. 14952*03 for applying to vote by proxy from the website service-public.fr
request the form and fill it out on site
You must provide proof of identity.
In both cases:
Once your application has been confirmed, the proxy form will be sent to your town hall.
You must submit your application in good time
so that it can be confirmed and received by the town hall in good time before the election.
Otherwise, your proxy will not be able to vote on your behalf.
If you are unable to travel (applies to France)
If you are unable to travel due to a disability or serious illness:
you must send a letter to a police officer asking them to come to your home.