Tournefeuille, near Toulouse, votes again for its town council on 6 December. Which foreign residents can vote, and why the electoral roll can't wait

Voters in Tournefeuille, a suburb of Toulouse, are going back to the polls for a new municipal election. In March the commune's result came down to a single vote. On 22 September the Toulouse administrative court annulled that election, and because nobody appealed, the annulment became final on 24 October. Until the new vote, the commune is run by a délégation spéciale appointed by the prefect, which handles only day-to-day business. The first round is on Sunday 6 December 2026, with a possible second round on 13 December. Candidates can register with the prefecture from 12 to 19 November.

Beyond the local story, there is a question for foreign residents anywhere in France: who among them can vote in a municipal election, and what do they need to do in time?

Which foreign residents vote in municipal elections

According to service-public, citizens of other EU countries can vote in French municipal and European elections. The conditions are:

• you are a national of an EU country other than France;
• you live in France;
• you are at least 18 on the day before the first round;
• your civil and political rights are not restricted, either in France or in your country of nationality.

That page makes no such provision for nationals of countries outside the EU.

You can register in only one commune. It can be the commune where you live, one where you have resided for at least 6 months, or one where you have paid local taxes for at least 2 years. Another option is the commune where a company is based that you have managed or held shares in for at least 2 years.

Registration is not automatic

This is the main trap. An EU citizen has to apply to be added to a liste électorale complémentaire. The lists for municipal elections and for European elections are separate, each with its own form: cerfa n°12670 for municipal elections and n°12671 for European ones. Being registered to vote in European elections does not on its own let you vote in a municipal one.

You can apply in three ways:

• online, through the 'Demande d'inscription en ligne sur les listes électorales' service, with scanned documents;
• at the mairie, in person or through someone you authorise;
• by post.

You need a valid identity document (ID card, passport or residence permit), proof of address, the form and a written declaration. Among other things, the declaration states your nationality and your address in France.

The deadline: the sixth Friday before the first round

You can register at any time of year, but to vote in a particular election the application has to be in by the sixth Friday before the first round. Service-public states that since 1 July 2026 (décret n° 2026-493 of 12 June 2026) the same deadline applies however you apply.

Working it out for a first round on 6 December, the sixth Friday before is 30 October 2026. That is our own calculation under the general rule. If you live in Tournefeuille and want to vote, confirm the date with the mairie straight away.

In some cases the deadline moves to the 10th day before the first round: for example, if you turn 18 after the sixth Friday, or if a move for work or retirement happens after that date.

What to do now

1. Check whether you are on the roll, and at which polling station, with the 'Vérifier votre inscription électorale et votre bureau de vote' service on service-public.
2. If you have moved to another commune, register again at your new address: registration does not follow you.
3. If you can't be there on polling day, an EU citizen can give a proxy (procuration) to any voter registered in France.

Foreign residents tend to remember the electoral roll too late. By-elections are held in other communes too, when a court annuls a result or a council breaks up, so this check is worth doing even if you don't live near Toulouse.

This is a general description of the rules, not advice on any individual situation.