Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
French Presidential Election Voter Turnout: 84%
By
Jen Chung
Published May 7, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 7, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, conservative Nicholas Sarkozy won the French presidential election over the Socialist Party's Segolene Royal (who was attempting to become France's first female president). Besides the violence that erupted, what we found interesting was the fact that voter turnout was 84% in France.
Sure, France is a smaller country than the U.S. and there isn't an Electoral College equivalent, but the voter turnout for the Bush-Kerry 2004 election was 60% - and that was 6.4% higher than the 2000 election. One possible reason why French voter turnout is very high: The election was held on a Sunday.
Some people have proposed that the U.S. Election Day be moved to a weekend or be made a holiday, though some states, back in 2001, told the Commission on Election Reform that it was doubtful Americans would actually prioritize voting on a free day. People who work for public offices, as well as some schools and unions, do get the day off.
Did you know that after the very close Democratic mayoral primary in 2005, some election reformers believe that NYC should switch to instant runoff voting? (Here's more from Gotham Gazette.) The 2005 mayoral election between Bloomberg and Ferrer had a 30% turnout. At any rate, if you haven't registered to vote yet, you should. Here's information on voter registration in NYC.
Photograph of riot police with a protester at Place de Bastille in Paris by Michel Springler/AP
Tagged
bloomberg
bush
college
election
election day
electoral college
Gotham Gazette
holiday
News: World
nyc
paris
people
police
Politics
presidential election
schools
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY's prison system is in crisis. It's driving staff away from the job.
The state is currently struggling with a 56% vacancy rate among prison workers.
By
Emily Russell
Published Oct 4, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. ET
NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens
Officers responding to a call at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 173rd Street around 1 a.m. found 29-year-old Sulimon Ferrier, who had multiple stab wounds to his chest, police said.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens
Officers responding to a call at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 173rd Street around 1 a.m. found 29-year-old Sulimon Ferrier, who had multiple stab wounds to his chest, police said.
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
By
Jill Webb
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
By
Catalina Gonella
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
By
Willow Higgins
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .