In Paris, as in Lyon and Marseille, the election of the mayor differs slightly from the electoral system in place in other French communes. In the majority of French communes, electors vote for a list of candidates, then the elected municipal councillors vote for the mayor, who is one of the members of the list chosen by the majority of voters.
In the capital, the system is more complicated. Voters elect municipal councillors for each arrondissement. A third of these councillors also sit on the Paris Council, which then selects the mayor of the capital. So, even if the mayor doesn't win a majority of votes in his or her home arrondissement, he or she can still rise to the highest office in the municipality.
Municipal elections: From arrondissement mayorships to the capital, how is the mayor of Paris elected?
During municipal elections, the composition of municipal seats in France's communes is determined by voters. In Paris, however, the procedure is different: yes, within the capital, in addition to the City of Paris, each arrondissement has its own mayor's office. So how are the arrondissement mayors and the mayor of Paris elected? Here's how it works. [Read more]
Deputy Sylvain Maillard wanted to reform this method of election, and therefore tabled a bill, which was definitively adopted by the National Assembly on July 10, 2025. The text is currently being examined by the Constitutional Council. But what does this bill contain? How might the municipal election system change in Paris?
The bill provides for two elections to be held on the same day in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. The first vote would be for arrondissement councillors, while the second vote would be for members of the Paris City Council. The latter would be carried out in two rounds.
In addition, the composition of municipal councils would also change, to favor opposition lists: only 25% of seats would be reserved for the elected list, with the remainder given to unsuccessful candidate lists, in proportion to election results. At present, 50% of seats are given to councillors on the list elected by local residents.
If the text is validated by the Constitutional Council, these changes could come into force as early as the next municipal elections, scheduled for March 2026.
In the civic calendar, municipal elections enable the citizens of each commune to elect their mayor. Whether in Paris City Hall, in the various arrondissements of the capital, in the Île-de-France region or nationwide, here are the dates of the next municipal elections in 2026. [Read more]
Municipal elections: From arrondissement mayorships to the capital, how is the mayor of Paris elected?
Now that the date of the next municipal elections has been set, here's when you can elect your mayor
