Even if it started several months ago, the presidential campaign between Monday, March 28 in its official phase. Candidates’ speaking times in the media will be closely monitored, as will their electoral propaganda sent to your mailboxes. Until then, all these documents must still be validated by a control commission.
What is candidate election propaganda?
From Monday, March 28, voters will begin to receive by mail the electoral propaganda of the twelve candidates, that is to say their professions of faith, where their program and their main ideas are presented, accompanied by all the ballot papers with their envelope.
Candidates will also be able to stick their campaign posters on the panels and locations dedicated to them until the end of the first round.
The candidates’ teams have until Friday, March 25, 8 p.m., to send all these documents to the National Commission for the Control of the Electoral Campaign for the Presidential Election (CNCCEP) so that they can be validated before printing and enveloping, which are paid for by the State.
What are the rules governing electoral propaganda?
The electoral propaganda of the candidates is subject to many very specific rules before their validation by the national control commission.
The posters, professions of faith and ballot papers of the candidates must respect very specific dimensions. For example, posters should not exceed 594 mm in width and 841 mm in height. Professions of faith and ballot papers are subject to a specific weight, between 70 and 80 grams per square meter.
On all posters and other documents sent and presented to voters from March 28, it is forbidden to use the French flag, as well as any association of blue, white and red since this would create confusion with the national emblem. . Exception: if it is the emblem of his own party.
On the internet too, candidates are subject to strict rules regarding electoral propaganda. For example, their social media accounts should not be used in such a way as to confuse ‘exercise of official duties’ with ‘election campaign propaganda’. On March 7, the control commission asked Emmanuel Macron to refrain from using his official account for electoral propaganda purposes for the duration of the campaign.
Why will electoral propaganda be even more scrutinized this year?
During the last regional and departmental elections, in 2021, tens of thousands of voters were deprived of the documents allowing them to make an informed choice. In question, the private company Adrexo which was responsible for sending electoral propaganda alongside La Poste.
The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, had spoken of “unacceptable dysfunctions linked to the quality of the delivery of electoral propaganda”.
Please note that from the official opening of the campaign on Monday March 28, the statements of the candidates will also be available on the website of the national control commission, in text and sound form.