Elections: identity papers to be presented to vote

Verified 08 June 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

To vote, you must prove your identity. The documents to be presented differ depending on whether you vote in France or abroad (consular post or embassy).

In France

The documents to be submitted depend on your nationality.

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You're French

To prove your identity when voting, you can present one of the following documents:

  • National identity card (valid or expired for less than 5 years)
  • Passport (valid or expired for less than 5 years)
  • Parliamentarian's identity card (valid) with photograph, issued by the president of a parliamentary assembly
  • Local elected official identity card (valid) with photograph, issued by the State representative
  • Vital card with photograph
  • Combatant's card (valid) with photograph, issued by the National Office of Veterans and War Victims
  • Disability card (valid) with photograph or mobility card inclusion (valid) with photograph
  • State official identity card with photograph
  • Identity card with photograph or circulation card (valid) with photograph, issued by the military authorities
  • Driving license (valid)
  • Receipt proving identity (valid), issued in exchange for identity documents in case of judicial control
  • Hunting permit (valid) with photograph, issued by the National Office of Hunting and Wildlife (Office National de la Chasse et de la Fauna Wilde (ONCFS)). The hunting license issued by the National Biodiversity Office is not valid.

Warning  

you must present the original document. A photograph or a smartphone download, a photocopy, are not accepted.

In a commune of less than 1,000 inhabitants, the identity document is not mandatory. But in case of doubt, the president of the polling station can ask you to prove your identity by any means.

FYI  

the electoral map is not a piece of identification. It is not mandatory to vote.

You're European

To prove your identity when voting (municipal and European elections only), you can present one of the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card issued by the competent administration of the State of which you are a national
  • Valid passport issued by the competent administration of the State of which you are a national
  • Residence permit (valid)
  • Local elected official identity card (valid) with photograph, issued by the State representative
  • Vital card with photograph
  • Combatant's card (valid) with photograph, issued by the National Office of Veterans and War Victims
  • Disability card (valid) with photograph or mobility card inclusion (valid) with photograph
  • State official identity card with photograph
  • Military identity card or circulation card (valid) with photograph, issued by the military authorities
  • Driving license (valid)
  • Hunting permit (valid) with photograph, issued by the National Office of Hunting and Wildlife
  • Receipt proving identity (valid), issued in exchange for identity documents in case of judicial control

Warning  

you must present the original document. A photograph on the phone or a photocopy is not accepted.

In a commune of less than 1,000 inhabitants, the identity document is not mandatory. But in case of doubt, the president of the polling station can ask you to prove your identity by any means.

Abroad

To prove your identity when voting, you can present one of the following documents:

  • French national identity card (valid or expired)
  • French passport (valid or expired)
  • Official document (valid) issued by a French public administration including the name, first name, date and place of birth, photograph of the holder and identification of the administrative authority that issued the document, date and place of issue
  • Card issued upon registration in the foreigner's French Register and consular registration card (all 2 valid)
  • Document (valid) issued by a Member State of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). The document must contain the name, forename, date and place of birth, photograph of the holder and identification of the administrative authority which issued the document, date and place of issue.

FYI  

the electoral map is not a piece of identification. It is not mandatory to vote.