Turnout in the second round of the 2026 municipal elections reached 57%, according to an Elabe-Berger Levrault estimate for BFMTV, RMC and Le Figaro. This figure is stable compared to the first round but 5.1 points lower than the 2014 second round. Significant disparities exist between departments and major cities.
The second round of the municipal elections, held on March 22, 2026, involved 1,580 communes out of about 35,000, following many first-round wins. Elabe-Berger Levrault's projection for BFMTV, RMC and Le Figaro shows 57% turnout among over 17 million registered voters, matching the 57.10% from the previous week's first round. Interior Ministry data reported 20.33% at noon and 48.10% at 5 p.m. for this 8 p.m. close, seen as the last test before the 2027 presidential amid post-dissolution fatigue and governmental instability. Top-mobilized departments at 5 p.m. were Cantal (69.45%), Corse-du-Sud (67.68%) and Lozère (67.31%). Lowest were Seine-Saint-Denis (34.10%), Val-de-Marne (39.50%) and Eure-et-Loir (39.26%). Major cities saw Paris at 40.98%, Lyon 44.81%, Toulouse 47.71%, Nice 50.1%, Bordeaux 44.31% and Marseille 50.88%. 'Even when there is apparent stability, the electorate has changed for technical or political reasons,' said Elabe president Bernard Sananès on BFMTV. This turnout is below 2014's 62.13%, 2008's 62.16% and 2001's 62.39%, though above 2020's Covid-affected rate.
