Voters still have a few days to create and validate their proxies. Overview of questions that may arise.
Some will abstain by choice. But for those who will be unable to go to their polling station that day, a tool exists to satisfy their civic desire anyway: the power of attorney. Overview of questions you might ask yourself.
How to create your power of attorney?
All you have to do is go to the Maprocuration.gouv.fr website to fill out a pre-request, then go by April 10 to a police station, a gendarmerie or a French consulate abroad to have your identity checked and to validate the document. The power of attorney can also be made directly in these three places without first going through the Internet box.
Note that the procedure is completely free.
Who can make a power of attorney? Where will your proxy vote?
All those who have not been deprived of their right to vote. On the other hand, small change since January 1: “If the proxy no longer needs to be registered on the same electoral list as you, he must still go to your polling station to vote in your place”, is it specified on Maprocuration.gouv. In addition, the agent cannot have more than one power of attorney in France, two abroad.
Until when can this power of attorney be made?
It’s a bit blurry. According to the Maprocuration.gouv website, “no provision of the electoral code fixes a deadline for the establishment of proxies to vote. […] However, for your power of attorney to be valid on polling day, you must first go to have your identity checked before an authorized authority. The power of attorney must then be taken into account by your municipality or voting consulate so that the name of your proxy is reported on the attendance list”. Waiting until the Saturday or even the Friday before the first round therefore seems a bit risky.
How long is the power of attorney valid for?
It’s a la carte. This can be done for a specific election, only in the first or second round, both, or even for a longer duration – “from one month minimum to one year maximum for voters registered on the municipal list; from one month to three years maximum for voters registered on the consular list”.
What to do if you are not able to travel to make the power of attorney?
“In the event of serious illness or infirmity which prevents you from moving around, you can request that police or gendarmerie personnel come to your home to establish the power of attorney”, explains Maprocuration.gouv. The trip of the agent can take place at home or in a specialized establishment. The request must be made in writing “and accompanied by a sworn statement indicating that you are clearly unable to travel”.
Can we change principal? Going to vote if we can finally go to the polling station?
It is possible to change agent by going to Maprocuration.gouv, but also in a police station or gendarmerie. If the fear of being absent on the day of the vote dissipates, a power of attorney created does not prevent you from voting despite everything. Unless… the agent has already voted for us.
Does the principal have to respect the proxy’s wish to vote?
He doesn’t have to. So you might as well have confidence in the person in question! If there is no available trusted person, some voters give their proxy to an activist from the local section of the political party for which they want to vote. Except dormant agent, there will therefore be no risk.