Voices from France: An Electoral Observer's Perspective

Dr. Sophie Durand, who has observed elections for the OSCE across Europe, reflects on French specificities:

"What strikes international observers about French elections is the ritualistic aspect. The envelope ceremony, the transparent urns, the formal counting process—it's almost theatrical. But this theater serves a purpose. It makes democracy tangible, visible, participatory. Yes, it's slower than electronic voting. Yes, it requires thousands of volunteers. But citizens trust it because they can see it, touch it, participate in it. The two-round system creates drama and forces broad coalitions. Voters become strategic actors, not just preference expressers. It's more complex than simple proportional representation, but it produces clear outcomes and stable governments. Every system has trade-offs. France has chosen clarity and stability over perfect proportionality."