Live updates as France renews 178 Senate seats this Sunday
France is holding elections to refill 178 of the 348 Senate seats, with results expected after polls close at 17:30.
On Sunday, French voters are deciding the occupants of 178 Senate seats, a portion of the chamber's 348 members. The election involves 64 departments and the second series of French citizens residing outside France. In the 34 departments that use a majoritarian system, the first round ran from 8:30 to 11:00, with candidates securing an absolute majority being elected outright; any remaining seats trigger a second round from 15:30 to 17:30.
The other departments employ proportional voting throughout the day until 17:30. While the bulk of results will be released after polls close at 17:30, preliminary numbers may be shared once the first round concludes. The ministère de l’intérieur will continuously update the official tallies, including vote totals for each list and candidate.
Why it matters
The Senate composition influences French legislative balance and future policy directions.
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