For the moment, it is the big favorite of these legislative elections: the proxy. Already more than 1.8 million in France and tens of thousands in Auvergne: unheard of!
Proxy voting has never been so popular. And we know why: the emergence of the extremes at the gates of power frightens as much as it attracts. As a result, no matter which side you are on, you absolutely want to throw your weight around. The other explanation is the date of these elections (June 30 for the first round, July 7 for the second) at a time when people have already started going on vacation.
Record attendance in town halls and police stations
Voters mobilized to find a solution to be able to express themselves: “Our vacations were already booked. Difficult to cancel the order,” explains Monique at the door of the Chamalières gendarmerie. “As a result, it’s my daughter who will vote for me, and another person for my husband.”
Ultimately, in Puy-de-Dôme as elsewhere, we expect participation to increase significantly, and no one will complain about it.
Significantly increasing demands in Moulins
This frantic race for a proxy is therefore rather a good thing, but not for everyone, because in the age of the Internet, a proxy is not only done online: “Since the announcement of these elections, we we receive around twenty people per day,” explains Anne-Marie Bonjean, head of the Population Reception department. “First there are the old ones, who are unfamiliar with computers, and who make their paper power of attorney as in the past. But others, who have started the operation online, must come and have their digital identity certified in a town hall equipped with the equipment, which is our case.”
Thus, in a few days, the service agents became seasoned specialists in power of attorney. So here they are jostled, but not turned upside down, because the town hall is not necessarily the main contact for a power of attorney request.
5 to 15 minutes per person
Indeed, the mobilization is quite different at the gendarmerie, 500 meters away, where the proxy causes cold sweats: “We have to devote on average 5 to 15 minutes to each person”. And fortunately, that day, Erwan was in a good place. “I already came two days ago, but I gave up. I never would have imagined that the proxy would be so attractive! »
Power of attorney instructions for use
1/The person chooses a proxy (a person to vote in their place) who is not obliged to reside in the same municipality (it is necessary to know the national voter number of the proxy registered on their voter card). Theoretically, it is possible to do this until the day before the election. But this year, there is a good chance that it will be too late given the crowds. The proxy can be requested for one or both rounds.
2/She establishes her power of attorney online at www.maprocuration.gouv.fr (you can also have a paper Cerfa form validated at a police station, a gendarmerie, the judicial court of your place of work or residence or a consulate).
3/Equipped with her identity document, she will have her identity checked at the police station, the gendarmerie or at her consulate.
4/On election day, the proxy will vote for the person in their polling station.
Arnaud Vernet
