Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: a) For Chamber 1;
b) Existing departmental boundaries are used for Chamber 2.
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
BD003
Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question: On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):
a . "Equality" of population
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
BD005
Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question: The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):
a . Legislature (1st chamber)
Comments: a) Both chambers.
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
Electoral Systems
Legislative Framework
LF001
Status of Electoral Law
Question: What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Part of Constitution b . Separate legislation
Comments: The French overseas departments (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion) elects candidates to the French Senate and House of Representatives. The overseas departments follow the same rules as the metropole regarding the organization of the elections. They do however enjoy certain specificities concerning electoral expenditure : certain travel expenses of the candidates are not taken into account in the ceiling of candidates' election expenses (article L.52-12 of the electoral code). Besides, the French Parliament is discussing a bill which would allow elections to be held on Saturday in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guiana (because of the time lag, people from these departments knew the results of the elections in the metropole before they voted).
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
LF003
Electoral Law covers
Question: The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):
a . National elections b . Regional elections c . Local elections d . Referendums e . Other
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
LF004
Compulsory/voluntary voting
Question: Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):
a . Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source: International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Verified: 2006/11/21
LF007
Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)
Question: What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):
a . Judiciary c . Specially Appointed/Elected Electoral Tribunal
Comments: a) Administrative courts for regional, departmental and municipal elections. Le Conseil d'Etat (the Supreme Administrative Court) for European Parliament elections;
c) Le Conseil constitutionnel (the Constitutionnal court) for legislative, presidential and Senate elections.
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
Electoral Management
EM002
Responsibility of national EMB
Question: Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):
a . National level b . Regional level c . Local level
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
EM004
EMB budget determined by
Question: The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):
c . The legislature
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
EM005
EMB expenditures controlled by
Question: The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):
e . Another organ within the national government
Comments: e) Court of Accounts
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
EM006
Term of EMB members
Question: The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:
c . For an unspecified period
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
Voter Education
VE001
Information campaigns performed by
Question: Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):
d . National Government f . Local Governments g . NGOs/ Civic Organizations h . Political parties/ candidates i . Media
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
VE002
Frequency of voter education programs
Question: At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:
a . Continuously
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
VE003
National civic education
Question: Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):
e . Yes, conducted by the Government h . Yes, conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
Voter Registration
VR001
Voting age
Question: What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
c . 18
Comments: 18 years
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
VR002
Other voting requirements
Question: Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Citizenship
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
VR004
Authority responsible for voter registration
Question: Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:
c . Local Government Authority
Comments:
Source: Electoral code, article L.5
Verified: 2007/01/14
VR008
Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Question: Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: a) Nonetheless, non-registered citizens are not liable to prosecution.
Source: Electoral code, article L.9
Verified: 2007/01/14
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
d . No registration required
Comments: The French overseas departments (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion) follow the same rules as the metropole regarding the organization of the elections. They do however enjoy certain specificities concerning electoral expenditure : certain travel expenses of the candidates are not taken into account in the ceiling of candidates' election expenses (article L.52-12 of the electoral code). Besides, the French Parliament is discussing a bill which would allow elections to be held on Saturday in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guiana (because of the time lag, people from these departments knew the results of the elections in the metropole before they voted).
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship
Comments: a) 23 years old and in full possession of their civil and political rights.
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
e . In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Based on result of previous election c . Based on current legislative representation
Comments:
Source: Loi n°88-227 du 11 mars 1988 relative à la transparence financière de la vie politique.
Verified: 2007/01/14
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: a) Political parties are not allowed to received funds from moral persons (companies... except other political parties) or foreign sources.
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
Vote Counting
VC004
Votes are sorted/counted at
Question: Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:
a . The polling stations
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2009/11/04
VC011
When are ballots recounted?
Question: Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):
c . Automatically (triggered) recounted under certain conditions d . By request e . Court order
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2009/11/04
Media and Elections
ME037
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
Question: What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):
d . Based on mixture of principles (specify) e . As agreed by special committee
Comments: d)The criteria for allocating free broadcast time to political parties depend on the nature of the election. For European and legislative elections, the free broadcast time is allocated to each political party depends on whether it is represented in Parliament. Electoral code, L.167-1 + loi du 7 juillet 1977 relative à l'élection des représentants au Parlement européen. For the presidential election, all candidates are allocated equal free broadcast time;
e) Le Conseil supérieur de l'audivisuel
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
ME059
Television debates
Question: Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):
a . Yes, in presidential elections b . Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
ME062
Blackout period for release of opinion poll results.
Question: What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:
b . 2-3 days
Comments: 2 days: polling day and the eve of polling day
Source: Loi n°77-808 du 19 juillet 1977 relative à la publication et à la diffusion de certains sondages d'opinion
Verified: 2007/01/14
Direct Democracy
Voting Operations
VO003
Electors vote at
Question: Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):
a . At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections h . By proxy
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
VO004
Voting outside the country is permitted for
Question: Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):
b . Citizens residing outside the country
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
VO005
Locations for voting outside of the country
Question: If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):
b . Consulates
Comments:
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2007/01/14
VO011
Voting method
Question: How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):
a . Manually marking of ballots
Comments: g) By choosing a ballot. One ballot for each candidate or one ballot for each list.
Source: Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
Verified: 2014/06/04
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