Law of July 18, 2025 on Postal Voting Rights for Detained Persons

This law reforms the voting procedures for incarcerated individuals in France, specifically targeting their ability to participate in elections while serving prison sentences. The central measure is the abolition of postal (correspondence) voting for detained persons in local and legislative elections. Prior to this law, prisoners who retained civic rights could cast ballots by mail for certain elections. This reform removes that mechanism, effectively restricting the practical means by which detained individuals can exercise their right to vote in local and legislative contests. The law is set to take effect beginning with the municipal elections scheduled for March 2026, meaning the upcoming local election cycle will be the first to operate under the new rules. No transitional arrangement preserving postal voting is provided for that election. The reform raises significant debate around civic participation and the rights of incarcerated persons, as postal voting was one of the primary accessible channels for prisoners who are physically unable to attend polling stations.

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