French voters in the Antilles and the Americas went to the polls a day earlier than those in mainland France, starting on Saturday, June 8th. The first polling stations opened at noon (10 am local time) in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, with approximately 5,000 voters. Residents of Guyana, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Polynesia, and voters living in the Americas also cast their ballots on Saturday.
In New Caledonia, voting began under tight security measures, three and a half weeks after the start of unrest in the South Pacific archipelago. Polling hours were adjusted to accommodate the 222,831 voters in the territory considering the curfew, with 296 polling stations consolidated into 50 locations. At the opening of the polling stations, around twenty voters lined up at the town hall in Nouméa, which was guarded by several dozen law enforcement officers.
For most voters, especially those in mainland France, the election will start on Sunday, June 9th at 8 am. Polling institutes will release their initial result estimates at 8 pm when the last polling stations in major cities close. The election, taking place simultaneously in the 27 EU countries, aims to elect members to the European Parliament, but it is seen as a major political test for Emmanuel Macron halfway through his term. The President has faced criticism from the opposition, accusing him of dominating media coverage under the guise of international engagements, such as the ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
In total, voters will have to choose from 38 candidate lists, with a question mark over voter turnout. Some polls indicate a decrease in turnout, but an Ifop-Fiducial survey on Friday suggested it could be as high as 52.5%, compared to 50.12% in 2019. The European elections have been a key topic in the French public sphere, with various events, such as the Agricultural Fair and D-Day commemorations, becoming part of the campaign narrative. The joint coverage of European and national issues has been a major focus of media attention in recent weeks.
