Final Days to Register for France’s March Municipal Elections

Overview

• Online sign‑ups close on 4 February, with in‑person or mail registrations due at town halls by 6 February, requiring photo ID and recent proof of address, plus a Cerfa form for paper filings.
• Limited exceptions allow registration until 5 March for cases such as a job‑related move, newly acquired nationality or restored voting rights.
• Candidate lists must be filed with the préfecture by 26 February at 18:00, and nominees must be 18, be French or EU citizens—with only French nationals eligible to be mayor or deputy—and have a documented tie to the commune.
• The 21 May 2025 reform extends list‑based gender parity nationwide and lets very small communes submit lists with one or two fewer names than the number of seats.
• Civic groups are stepping up workshops and outreach to reduce abstention, targeting young people in neighborhoods with historically very low turnout.