In France, it is the home stretch of the senatorial campaign. The elections on September 24 will allow half of the hemicycle to be renewed. An important deadline, but largely unknown due in particular to a particularly complex, indirect voting method.
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One of the particularities of the senatorial elections in France is that it is not the French who are called to the polls.
Unlike the President of the Republic or the deputies, senators are elected by indirect universal suffrage by electors. Here, it is deputies, regional, departmental and municipal councilors who will parade through the voting booths.
This year, 170 of the 348 seats in the upper house of Parliament are up for grabs for a six-year term. This concerns metropolitan and overseas departments, New Caledonia and representatives of French people established outside France.
The number of senators elected per constituency depends on the number of inhabitants. There is only one for Lozère, while Paris has twelve. Which varies how the election works.
Senators from the least populated constituencies are elected by two-round majority vote. In other words, the electors vote for a single candidate and not for a list, as is the case in constituencies with many inhabitants.
An election in which the establishment of parties in the territories plays a major role. This has so far allowed the right and its numerous local elected officials to be in the majority.
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