Three elections on the same day? In Lyon, a reform of the PLM law "inapplicable" as it stands

The adoption on Thursday of a reform of municipal elections in France's three largest cities will require Lyon residents to participate in three elections on the same day, a unique situation that poses an organizational challenge.

Lyon was already in a particular situation since the creation in 2015 of the Lyon Metropolis, also called Greater Lyon, whose councilors are elected by direct universal suffrage, on the same day as the municipal elected officials of the 58 municipalities of the agglomeration.

Read also: "Haste", "confusion"... The Green mayor of Lyon ignites the reform of the municipal election

But the final adoption of the so-called "PLM" law for Paris, Lyon, and Marseille will add a ballot for Lyon voters, since they will now have to vote separately for elected officials at the district town hall and the central town hall, in addition to the metropolitan vote.

This " messy " reform " risks causing significant confusion " in the minds of voters, but also " increased complexity for the implementation of the triple ballot ," laments Green mayor Grégory Doucet, who will seek a second term in 2026. Size of polling stations, mobilization of assessors, number of ballot boxes, counting time... his services are concerned about several logistical difficulties and regret having little time to overcome them.

For the president of the Lyon metropolitan area, environmentalist Bruno Bernard, the reform is simply " inapplicable " in Lyon, particularly because it poses problems in applying the law on campaign spending. " Never in the 5th Republic have we had three elections on the same day in France ," he told AFP, regretting that " the specific nature of the Lyon region has not been taken into account despite repeated warnings over the past two years ."

During parliamentary debates, MoDem rapporteur Jean-Paul Mattei proposed excluding Lyon from the reform, but his proposal was not followed by the deputies. " I hope that the Constitutional Council will restore some order ," added Bruno Bernard. Otherwise, he has " no idea " how the elections will be organized.

" We will see the decision of the Constitutional Council ," which could invalidate certain provisions, also notes a government source, according to whom " if the law is validated, in the fall, Lyon will have plenty of time to organize itself ." The situation is " not insurmountable, especially for a municipality of this size, which has many agents and numerous schools to host voting operations ," this source believes. And in the event of difficulties, " the State and its services will be attentive ," she promises.

Read also: Parliament definitively adopts the reform of municipal elections in Paris, Lyon and Marseille