On March 15 and 22, 2026, the residents of Lyon will need to slip three ballots into three different ballot boxes. The Constitutional Council has approved the reform of the voting method for Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. The result: a multiple vote to elect the city mayor, the district mayors, and, uniquely for Lyon, the metropolitan councilors.
This new feature is part of the reform of the PLM law (Paris, Lyon, Marseille), enacted on August 11, 2025. The stated goal: to adapt the governance of France's three largest cities to their complex territorial reality, while ensuring a balanced representation of the residents.
Three ballots, three ballot boxes, and a logistical challenge
In Lyon, the electoral headache will be even more pronounced than in Paris or Marseille. In addition to the municipal and district councilors, theVoters will also vote for the Metropolis of Lyon. Since 2015, this authority has taken on the responsibilities of the former urban community and the Rhône department within its territory. It's a unique status in France that explains this third election.
Specifically, the people of Lyon will have a beige ballot for the central city hall, a blue one for the district, and a yellow one for the Metropolis. Three simultaneous votes, three distinct ballot boxes, and an organization that promises to be quite the logistical and financial challenge for the City: more ballots, more officials, and additional security measures.
A reform that changes the rules of the political game
Beyond the technical details, this reform deeply alters the political stakes for the 2026 municipal elections in Lyon. The initial idea was to simplify the infamous "territorial millefeuille" by eliminating the departmental level.in the metropolitan area. But the Lyon experiment was never expanded elsewhere.
The overlap of the three elections now encourages the formation of genuine political "tickets." On the right and in the center, the duo of Jean-Michel Aulas and Véronique Sarselli is emerging. On the left, Grégory Doucet and Bruno Bernard could unite, outside of LFI. Alliances are becoming strategic, as voters will cast their ballots collectively for closely connected municipal and metropolitan projects.
Another nuance: in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, the majority premium is set at 25% of the seats for the leading list (compared to 50% in other municipalities). The remaining seats are allocated proportionally among lists that exceed 5%. This means that every vote will count double... or even triple.
Source: CNews