For the past 5 years, one of the polling stations at the school in Juan-Les-Pins has been using the electronic voting system. Voters are delighted. However, only a few have come to vote today.
For Serges Amar, president of one of the school’s polling stations, it’s only a matter of hours: “Since 7 a.m. this morning, we’ve only recorded 28% voter turnout. But the weather is beautiful, and people have preferred to go for a walk with their families in the sun. Many voters will come between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.”
The election officials are less confident. They explain that most voters don’t feel concerned about the regional elections; they feel disillusioned. Suzanne, president of one of the school’s polling stations, analyzes it: “Voters don’t think their vote will change much. So they don’t come to the polls. By and large, they only feel involved during presidential elections.”
One of the officials highlights another important point, that of the young: “They don’t know who they’re voting for. They are not well-informed. Young people don’t differentiate between right and left.”
But Guillaume, 21 years old, draws a clear distinction between the left and the right. Today, he is one of the few young people who came to vote: “The issue for me is primarily coherence. Regions should not hinder what is being done at the national level.” He explains his thesis that political parties can only apply 50% of what they initially propose: “So, I voted for the National Front list. It’s a way of manifesting my dissatisfaction. The UMP’s program suits me, but as soon as we try to change something, France takes to the streets.”
Pierre Aubry is on the Europe Ecology list. He went to vote today: “I know that the participation rate won’t be very good. People have their daily problems, so for them, regional elections aren’t interesting. However, the region can make progress in terms of ecology.”
The polling station at the school in Juan-Les-Pins is expected to report its results around 9 p.m.
