I know I'm a bit late, but does anyone know if us Brits were allowed to vote in the cantonale elections? We were reminded by several friends but when we turned up to vote, we weren't on the list. We have been inscripted and so voted in the village election some time ago. We know we can't vote in all elections, but where is the line drawn?

Sue

Between two dots, Not rightly sure myself. I did wonder why all the polling station thingies were open.

Only French nationals can vote in the cantonale elections on 20th and 27th March. As UK citizens we can only vote for the Conseil Municipal and in the European elections. As a member of the conseil municipal I have to do my hours in the polling station even though I can't vote!

I read this somewhere recently - might have been in an english language french paper - but I can't trace it.
From memory, as a resident, you are entitled to vote in the local elections and european elections but not the national/presidential elections.
You must be registered to vote in the Mairie.
I assume that you need to be a french citizen with an identity card for the others.
I see that EmilyA has just posted the same info.

Thanks for your swift reply; This has caused quite a bit of confusion, but at least we showed willing! The British Consulate didn't know

Sue

Also, there weren't elections in all the Cantons. They are staggered, for some reason, and we had ours a couple of years ago...

The voting line is drawn down the nationality border, which seems fair enough. If you want to vote in a foreign country, you have to have the nationality of the country you want to vote in. Sounds logical, doesn't it? I believe the same kind of rule applies in the UK.
Taking out French nationality is no big deal now we're all Europeans, although in my day it took 14 months. You get to keep your British nationality and get a brand new, smart (smart-arse?) exotic one that you can dazzle your mates with down the pub. And then there is nothing to stop you from voting for the excellent politicians France is so full of. No messing about with the Nick Cleggs of this world, the French have bright young things like Sarkozy, Juppé, Royale, Strauss-Kahn or Lagarde, none of whom can possibly be a day over thirty.
Having dual nationality serves little purpose and is more a drag than anything as you have two passports to renew and an identity card (Quelle horreur!). However, it can be useful on coming back to France or going back to the UK because you don't have to queue at immigration with the hoi polloi, and you don't need any extra documents to be allowed back home.
And if you like voting so much, you might even be able to vote twice, once over here and another time over there, which as everyone knows, is very democratic.
PB