Paris (France) (AFP) – Maintained despite the progression of the coronavirus epidemic, the 2020 municipal elections took place in a surreal atmosphere, with participation in free fall and a second round postponed by... two and a half months.
Published on: 02/13/2026 - 1:37 p.m.
On Sunday March 15, 2020, the polling stations opened in a heavy atmosphere despite a sun that promises to be spring over a large part of the country.
France moved the day before to "stage 3" of the epidemic, meaning that the virus, after the first "clusters" detected in February, is circulating throughout the territory. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, worried about non-compliance with “social distancing” rules, ordered the closure of “non-essential” public places, such as restaurants or cinemas.
But no election postponement. The question was decided on Thursday 12 by Emmanuel Macron after a long meeting at the Elysée of the scientific council chaired by Jean-François Delfraissy.
“Scientists consider that nothing prevents the French, even the most vulnerable, from going to the polls,” explains the head of state.
As a precaution, Edouard Philippe still canceled his final meeting in Le Havre on the evening of the 12th.
But once again there is no question of touching the elections, while the president of LR, Christian Jacob, calls for a "coup d'état" in the event of a postponement.
Marking on the ground for queues, regular cleaning of polling stations, hand washing point or hydroalcoholic gel... the Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner, sent town halls a circular detailing the hygiene measures to take.
According to him, “voting is safe”. At the time, wearing a mask was not yet recommended. On the contrary, this must not prevent the identification of the voter...
On voting day, voters adapt: they avoid touching the curtains of the voting booths, they come with their own pens, their own gloves.
“From the voting booth to isolation”
But that is not enough to reassure. Participation fell by almost 20 points compared to 2014, to only 44.66%.
“The classroom where the polling station was installed looked more like the waiting room of a dispensary from which everyone hoped to escape as quickly as possible,” summarizes the daily La Voix du Nord in an editorial “From the voting booth to isolation.”
In these lunar conditions, the postponement of the second round became obvious from Monday morning, including among those who opposed it three days before.
The same evening, Mr. Macron confirmed this postponement. But it was another announcement that caught the attention of the 35 million French people in front of their television that evening: a general confinement from Tuesday at 12:00 p.m.
The second round will finally be held on June 28, with an even lower participation, at 41.86%.
To what extent was the vote distorted? The decline in participation having been more marked among older people, who vote further to the right, some political scientists believe that this could have amplified the environmentalist wave in large traditionally center-right cities such as Bordeaux, Lyon or Annecy.
To what extent did the vote expose the population? Voters, assessors and elected officials were contaminated during the campaign, voting and election evenings. But no study has established its extent.
© 2026 AFP
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