The second round of the 2026 municipal and intercommunal elections involves voters in 1526 communes, about 17 million registered, with configurations from duels to quinquangulaires in cities like Paris, Lyon and Toulouse. Could the record first-round abstention of 42.90% decrease amid national stakes?
The second round of the 2026 municipal elections, set for this Sunday, covers 1526 communes and about 17 million registered voters, per Fig Data. Voters will decide 548 duels, 803 triangulaires, 159 quadrangulaires and 16 quinquangulaires, especially in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Nîmes. First-round abstention hit 42.90%, a record outside health crises, partly due to no competition in 68% of communes and the ban on list-splitting in those under 1000 inhabitants. A turnout surge is anticipated amid uncertainties. In Paris, an Elabe-Berger Levrault poll for Le Figaro, BFMTV and La Tribune Dimanche shows Emmanuel Grégoire (PS-PCF-Écologistes) at 37.98% from round one, narrowly ahead of Rachida Dati after fusing with Pierre-Yves Bournazel, as Sophia Chikirou holds her base. Polls point to tight races in major cities like Marseille, Toulouse and Le Havre. Over 16.8 million voters head to polls, eyes on urban areas.
