local elections

Although we have been here for 6 years, this is the first year that we have registered as voters. The local elections take place next Sunday and again the following weekend, and not wanting to look a complete idiot in the polling booth (or to return a spoilt ballot paper), I'm wondering whether anyone on this forum knows how the voting works.

I think you have to vote for a complete list rather than for an individual, and the list with the most votes has its leader become Maire. But how are the council seats divided among the various lists, and why does the voting take place on two consecutive Sundays?

We've had visits from representatives of the various lists, and on the basis of these discussions I think I know how I want to vote - but I'd like to understand better how my vote would be counted, and how the system works.

explanations I have found for voting in the municipal elections.
http://www.frenchvillagediaries.com/2014/02/local-elections-in-france.html
http://www.anglophone-direct.com/A-more-detailed-look-at-the-French

Thanks Inkflo, those links were very helpful. It's very complicated n'est-ce pas?
And to think that in Britain some people object to proportional representation on the basis that it would be undemocratic, because the system would be too complex for most people to understand!

As far as the voter is concerned, I think that if you are happy with one of the lists, then you just pop it in the envelope & into the box. You can cross off anyone that you don't want. Then it's a case of seeing who has a majority.
The thing to remember is your proof of identity & voting card has to be presented on election day.

Inkflo wrote:As far as the voter is concerned, I think that if you are happy with one of the lists, then you just pop it in the envelope & into the box. You can cross off anyone that you don't want. Then it's a case of seeing who has a majority.
The thing to remember is your proof of identity & voting card has to be presented on election day.

Can you really? I think that such a sweeping statement will lead to a lot of spoiled and wasted votes. If you can 'cross off anyone that you don't want' or mark the list in any way is entirely dependant upon the size of ones commune. Not all communes are equal.

Perhaps Very 19 could give the definitive answer?

Can you really? I think that such a sweeping statement will lead to a lot of spoiled and wasted votes. If you can 'cross off anyone that you don't want' or mark the list in any way is entirely dependant upon the size of ones commune. Not all communes are equal.[/quote]

I know that that preference voting is for communes with under 1000 inhabitants, but I was actually referring to our commune voting.
Perhaps, I didn't make it clear.
Also, in communes with under 1000 inhabitants, there is no requirement to show a piece of identity. http://limousin.france3.fr/2014/03/20/finalement-les-electeurs-des-communes-de-moins-de-1000-habitants-n-auront-pas-besoin-de-piece-d-identite-pour-voter-437013.html

Our commune is one of under 1000 inhabitants. I've been told that you can cross off anyone you want, but now for the first time, you cannot name other persons anymore.

We have been told to bring proof of ID and the voting card.

In our village there is just one list. I value the right to vote, but as I am not happy with some of the councillors being re-elected, I will cross off those macho men who do not like women speaking their mind... I see no other option. Next time round we will try to get together 11 people to present an alternative list   !

So, here in our commune of (I believe) 172, we have just been to vote this morning. Although told to bring proof of identity we didn't get to show it (probably because they know us....). There are two lists of 11 here and both have candidates from the previous list. We will be going back tonight at 18h00 to watch the counting. I'm looking forward to the result and am crossing my fingers because I am on one of the lists!!! Whatever happens I am convinced it will be amicable as there was a party which the outgoing Maire held yesterday to celebrate the last six years and also wish a jolly good retirement to some of the members. It was great as EVERYone mixed together despite the lists!

Toddled of to vote and arrived at 8:10 this morning to find that I was about 40 souls down the queue. I found that I was listed as no.1 on the list of foreigners, does that make me important?   
In our commune there are 200+ Anglo's resident, but when I went to sign the register after voting I noticed that there are only a paltry 18 registered to vote, pretty pathetic. The OH recently ran a survey for the current administration detailing the wants and rants of the English speaking population and I noticed that almost all who answered the said survey with demands for this & that had not bothering to register or participate in the voting procedure. There are two Britons on this years lists, on for each side, but even one of those has not registered to vote.

I'm a candidate and I voted today.
I agree with Le-Dolly, it's no good people complaining if they don't get involved and vote.

Le-Dolly wrote: I found that I was listed as no.1 on the list of foreigners, does that make me important? .

Hi Le-Dolly. It may or may not make you important......if, however, Le Pen wins the next election, you might be safer being number 3,467,953 on the list. At least it'll give you enough time to gather your valuables together.

Le-Dolly wrote:In our commune there are 200+ Anglo's resident, but when I went to sign the register after voting I noticed that there are only a paltry 18 registered to vote, pretty pathetic. The OH recently ran a survey for the current administration detailing the wants and rants of the English speaking population and I noticed that almost all who answered the said survey with demands for this & that had not bothering to register or participate in the voting procedure.

I agree wholeheartedly. The fact that only 9% of the British residents could be bothered to register to vote is pathetic and, as you say, pulls the rug from under their feet when they moan about this and that. I wonder if anybody here who didn't register, will come to on tell us why they didn't bother.

On the subject of voting, it grieves me greatly that I am resident in France, I pay my taxes in France, I contribute to the economy in other ways and I involve myself in the daily life of French people BUT I am not allowed to vote in national elections. I can think of no reason why I should be prohibited from my democratic right to vote in a country in which I have chosen to live.

We haven't registered as we found out too late that we were entitled to vote , but we shall for the next local elections as soon as we can.

Inkflo wrote:I'm a candidate and I voted today.
I agree with Le-Dolly, it's no good people complaining if they don't get involved and vote.

It would be a pretty rum do if you had not voted, at least for yourself.   

Happy to say, I received more than enough votes. Nice surprise, and goes to show that it isn't always a barrier to be of a different nationality in local politics.
Good that the commune has an elected council for another term too, as I have heard that there are communes that haven't been able to attract enough candidates and will lose their local council.

lady of leisure wrote:We haven't registered as we found out too late that we were entitled to vote , but we shall for the next local elections as soon as we can.

It was posted on this forum for everyone to read in November that the deadline for signing up was approaching. https://limousin.forumactif.com/t329-calling-all-sostraniensand-others
That will be tomorrow then.  

I must of missed it excuse my ignorance

Lady of leasure, you got your hand slapped pay attention in future    

Ok will do  no excuses now  

Well done Blakevine and Inkflow for taking part in local government and a special congratulations to Blakevine for being a new resident in the area and the country for that, a foreigner, and getting almost the most votes of all the candidates! That's quite some achievement.

As for Inkflow: did your list win and did you get in as candidate or will there be a second round perhaps?

If so, both Blakevine and Inkflow will have a tree planted in their garden soon to celebrate them as new "élu(e)s" !

In our small village they had a recount I was told, as they forgot the list of "étrangers". We, foreigners, are on a separate list, as we are not entitled to vote at all the elections...

I'm a bit bleary eyed this morning as I think I must have had a dream last night.....Thanks so much for the congratulations (does word travel fast or has it been published somewhere already?) Yes, you are right, I only got one vote less than the candidate with the most votes so I am well chuffed. After sitting for 4 hours and listening to all the counting (which in itself was quite a mind blowing experience) I was very proud and humbled by the result, especially as people from the other list came and congratulated me. We got invited to one of the candidates' houses afterwards for a wee tipple! Do I really get a tree? Wow! K.

Congratulations Blakevine same here, I got one vote less than the highest. I'm sure we had less candidates than you though, and our count took under two hours, so as Myriam says. it was quite some achievement for you.
We don't have a second round, the eleven candidates were elected last night.
I must say, it was far more interesting than I imagined it would be.
What's this about a tree Myriam?  

Here you will find two links to websites that explain the ritual of the mai d'élu(e):

http://lemovica.free.fr/confmfhpresent.html
http://lessalledecastillon.free.fr/maiade.html

Certainly in the Corrèze it's tradition, maybe not so much so in the Haute Vienne?

On the day the tree is planted, the newly elected councillor usually invites neighbours, friends and family to celebrate with for example a kir or champagne and apéro snacks like cake salé, quiche, etc. The planting of the tree is usually held in the month of May.

Thanks Myriam, what a nice tradition.