page_title: Elections in France
section_title: Voting procedures
hierarchical_section_title: Elections in France / Voting procedures
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Isoloirs français lors de l'élection présidentielle 2007 2e tour
context_page_description: France is a representative democracy. Public officials in the legislative and executive branches are either elected by the citizens or appointed by elected officials. Referendums may also be called to consult the French citizenry directly on a particular question, especially one which concerns amendment to the Constitution.
  France elects on its national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature.
  The president is elected for a five-year term, directly by the citizens.
  The Parliament has two chambers.
  The National Assembly has 577 members, elected for a five-year term in single seat-constituencies directly by the citizens.
  The Senate has 348 members, elected for six-year terms. 328 members are elected by an electoral college consisting of elected representatives from each of 96 departments in metropolitan France, 8 of which are elected from other dependencies, and 12 of which are elected by the French Assembly of French Citizens Abroad which has replaced the High Council of French Citizens Abroad a 155-member assembly elected by citizens living abroad.
  In addition, French citizens elect a variety of local governments.
context_section_description: In general, voting is done using paper and manual counting. The voter gets a pre-printed ballot paper (bulletin) from a table at the entrance of the voting office (they are also provided through the mail), as well as an envelope. The voter enters a curtained booth (isoloir), where they are hidden from sight, and inserts the completed ballot paper into an envelope. They walk to the ballot box and may show their voter registration card (not compulsory) and are required to prove their identity (in conurbations with more than 5000 inhabitants, an identification document must be shown).  After the officials have acknowledged their right to vote, the ballot box is opened and the voter inserts the envelope. One of the officials, traditionally loudly, announces "A voté! (Has voted!)".  This is purely ceremonial and has a double meaning: the voter's voix (voice) will be taken into account and they have accomplished their civic duty. The voter then signs the voters' list and their voter registration card is stamped.
  Procedures differ when electronic voting is used. It is not widespread in France, but is used in some cities, despite controversy over its safety and effectiveness.
caption: Isolation booth
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