CERFA Procuration Template for France

A CERFA Procuration is the standardized French electoral proxy form that allows you to delegate your voting rights to another person when you cannot vote in person. This official document enables democratic participation through authorized representatives while maintaining the integrity of the French electoral system.

When do you need this document?

You need a CERFA Procuration when circumstances prevent you from voting personally at your designated polling station. Common situations include professional obligations that require travel during election periods, medical conditions or hospitalization that prevent physical attendance, military service or deployment abroad, and temporary residence outside your electoral constituency. The document is also essential for French citizens living overseas who wish to vote in their home constituency through a proxy. Since the 2019 electoral reforms, the mandataire (proxy holder) no longer needs to be registered in the same commune as you, expanding your options for choosing a trusted representative.

Key legal considerations

The procuration creates a legal mandate under Article 1984 of the Code civil, establishing a formal relationship between the mandant (you) and the mandataire (your proxy). Your proxy must be a registered voter but can now vote in any French commune, not just yours. The document requires complete accuracy in personal information, including national voter numbers for both parties. You cannot give procuration to someone who is already acting as proxy for another voter, and the same person cannot hold more than two procurations. The procuration is limited to specific elections or time periods and cannot be used for purposes beyond voting. Any false declarations constitute electoral fraud, punishable under French criminal law.

Legal requirements in France

Under the Code électoral Articles L71 and R72, your CERFA Procuration must be validated by competent French authorities before use. Acceptable validation authorities include police stations, gendarmerie units, French consulates abroad, or certain French courts. The 2021 reforms introduced the digital "Maprocuration" system, allowing online application with physical validation still required. You must present valid identification during the validation process, and authorities will verify the information against electoral rolls. The procuration automatically expires after the specified election(s) or time period, with a maximum validity of one year for multiple elections. Your proxy must present identification at the polling station and can only vote according to the elections specified in your procuration.