We were no longer used to seeing such a flood of voters in the polling stations of Loiret. Sunday, June 30, as they left the polls for the first round of the legislative elections, residents of cities and countryside explained why traveling for this election was so important.
This is, for once, a great success for democracy. Participation in the first round of the early legislative elections, Sunday June 30, broke records.
“The queue all the way to the street
“At 3 p.m., we had a turnout of 57.97%,” rejoiced, for example, the mayor of the Sologne village of Marcilly-en-Villette, Hervé Nieuviarts. Sixteen points more than in the 2022 legislative elections. This morning, there was a queue all the way out into the street.” “We have 88 proxies, twice as many as usual,” added the town hall employee, Véronique.
In Saint-Denis-en-Val, the number of proxies rose to 317. Same refrain in office no. 1 of La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, with a rate of 57.20% before 3 p.m., “much more than ‘to the Europeans there is a continuous flow’, the assessors testified. Same thing in Orléans, in the La Source district, at the Romain-Rolland school office: “Usually, we have slow periods. There, not a single one. And we have a lot of first-time voters.”
Vote of conviction? Blockade vote against the far left, the far right or Emmanuel Macron? What moved the usually less enthusiastic crowds?
“If I don’t vote, I’m sick”
It’s hard to say, at first glance. Because the vast majority of voters approached, from La Source to Orléans to the small villages of Sologne, explain that: “In any case, I vote every time…”; “It’s my duty as a citizen, I vote in every election”; “I vote automatically, otherwise I won’t be able to complain about the elected officials afterwards”; “We have this right to vote, obviously we come every time.” “If I don’t vote, I’m sick”…
It seems that all the voters on Sunday were in the previous European elections – participation in which was nevertheless mediocre (52.75% in Loiret).
“My husband was motivated, for once”
However, there are a few who rarely make the trip. Julien leaves the Maxime-Perrard polling station in Orléans.
“No, I don’t vote every time. But here, the barrier vote is necessary. I didn’t vote in the European elections, I didn’t expect such a result, I hadn’t followed the polls. It was a shock, I kind of regretted not going to vote, so here I am.”
Julien (Occasional voter)
In Marcilly-en-Villette, Natasha, “very politicized”, was bound to vote. A vote of conviction. Her son Adrien, 19, accompanied her. “It’s my first vote, I wasn’t free for the European elections, and with my exams, I didn’t have time to go to the police station to make a proxy. There, I’m not convinced by any party, I’m on a block vote”.
“Look how nice our presbytery is!” : in Sigloy, an unusual polling station for the first round of the legislative elections
“My husband, who almost only votes in presidential elections, got motivated for once. He said to himself that we are still dealing with a national issue. But he didn’t vote for any of his favorites, it was really a block vote.”
A national issue? Even among those who would have traveled anyway, we feel a particular motivation and excitement.
“There, it is doubly important”
“We vote all the time, but this is doubly important. We’ve been voting for the same people for forty years so that things change. We want new people, we want security above all, we’re fed up to always be afraid.”
Myriam and Richard (Fertesian voters)
They don’t hide it, their vote is for the National Rally. “Be careful, I didn’t vote for Mr. Le Pen,” Myriam says. “But the party has changed, it’s no longer a question of racism, but of security.”
And for them, on this Sunday, we feel a little “victory at our fingertips. But if we don’t win, no, it will be in three years. Or maybe never! But at least, we will have given our voice”.
Opposite motivation for Léna and Tom, at La Source.
“I vote all the time. But this time, I travelled from Nantes specially to vote, and act as proxy for a friend. We must counter the extremes, especially the far right.”
Lena (empty)
Why is voting so important today? “This is the revolution of elections right now. As young adults, we have to choose the future of the country, and especially the future we don’t want.”
The high participation rate makes them smile. “After the European elections, people are realizing that it is important to vote, whatever their vote. There are many influencers on social networks, who encourage young people to vote. And often, who call to vote against the extremes. It against the effect of algorithms which keep people in a system of thought, which Jordan Bardella took advantage of.”
“I motivated my colleagues”
“This vote is particularly important, there is no question of letting the RN pass. Especially not with a binational child, and being a National Education teacher, Here, in the countryside, we are not affected by the ‘insecurity, why let yourself be taken in by this speech?’ supports Rosie, in Marcilly-en-Villette.
Legislative: Lou, 21, is president of a polling station in Orléans; he succeeds his grandmother
A Fertesian couple explains that they each received a power of attorney from friends of theirs, absent from the city. “Normally, they wouldn’t necessarily have taken the trouble. Here, they wanted to block it…”
“I have a lot of friends who don’t usually vote, because they have the impression that it doesn’t change anything, that we don’t listen to them. But now, we feel a little in danger, especially on the on the social side, with the laws on retirement, work France is a beautiful country but is deteriorating more and more, that must change.
Driss (Elector in Orleans)
For the RN, against the RN… “The important thing is to vote, whatever happens. Usually, I vote but I don’t say anything to others. There, I motivated my colleagues, I reminded them that the issue is more important than in the European elections. It is about our government. I have colleagues who are 30 or 35 years old, who perhaps did not understand it. impact of this vote. I told them: ‘Think about what you want, it’s our deputies that we elect!'” says Florence, a frequent voter in La Ferté-Saint-Aubin.
Caroline Bozec
