The first round of municipal elections on March 15, 2026 is experiencing accelerating voter turnout in the Alpes-Maritimes. The 5 p.m. count marks a turning point in the election day, with stronger mobilization than in recent previous municipal elections but still far from other departments.
The prefecture of Alpes-Maritimes reported the voter turnout at 5 p.m.. It now stands at 41.39%. This level far exceeds that recorded in 2020 at the same time, which was then measured at 29.50%. It remains however far from 2014, when turnout reached 62.77%. National benchmarks from 2024 also place this figure in an intermediate zone, with 54.48% during legislative elections and 45.54% during European elections. However, the Alpes-Maritimes remain far from the national average which is 48.90% at 5 p.m.. Forecasts estimate overall participation in France at 58%, barely just over one French person in two. In the department it should be significantly lower.
This second indicator is in line with the beginning of the day. At noon, the prefecture announced that the voter turnout rate was 15.86%. This figure was already above the level observed in 2020, which was then measured at 13.87%. At the national level, turnout reached 19.37%, a difference of approximately four points. Comparisons with previous elections also showed intermediate positioning: 24.58% in 2014, 23.34% during the 2024 legislative elections and 18.74% during the European elections of the same year.
The day continues until the closing of polls, set at 7 p.m. in the department and 8 p.m. in Nice. Approximately 800,000 voters from Alpes-Maritimes are called to the polls, including 228,006 in Nice. The first results will be published from 8 p.m.
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