How much does it actually cost to organize a referendum?

A referendum on public finances before the end of the year? François Bayrou is in favor, but this decision is not up to the Prime Minister. Indeed, only the President of the Republic has the power to decide whether to hold a public consultation. Emmanuel Macron is expected to address the issue during a special broadcast this Tuesday, May 13, starting at 8:10 p.m. on TF1. He had already mentioned the possibility of using referendums in his New Year's address to the population for 2025.

According to an Elabe poll conducted for BFMTV and published last Sunday, 83% of French people are in favour of holding a referendum , particularly on issues such as public spending, debt, taxes, as well as pensions and immigration.

83% of French people in favor of organizing a referendum

A guest on the RTL - Public Sénat - Le Figaro - M6 morning media show this Sunday, May 11, Bruno Retailleau confirmed that this type of vote is in preparation. Two scenarios are being considered: a traditional vote, with a ballot , estimated at nearly “200 million euros” due to the costs associated with paper, or a dematerialized referendum , the cost of which would be “100 million euros” . But this second solution would exclude people unfamiliar with digital tools.

The last major national referendum held in France was in 2005 , concerning the draft European Constitution. Its total cost was estimated, according to the Ministry of the Interior, at 130.6 million euros, or nearly 180 million taking inflation into account. This sum was divided between several items: printing the treaty (55.5 million), sending it to all voters (58.8 million), organizing the logistics of the vote (7 million) and the official campaign (9.3 million).

Between “100 and 200 million euros”

By comparison, the 2024 legislative elections cost the state nearly €195 million , or about €4 per registered voter. Again, the majority of the budget is dedicated to printing and mailing statements of faith, organizing polling stations, and reimbursing candidates' campaign expenses. A national referendum, on the other hand, involves a similar system: same voters, same ballots, same constraints.

Regarding the date, Bruno Retailleau mentioned that it would be difficult to implement this system before the summer. "There's a huge amount of very concrete administration, including with the municipalities, to develop the electoral propaganda, to finalize the rules. It's complicated," he explained, adding that "an electoral campaign" is necessary. "But in the months that follow, of course," the Interior Minister specified.

However, we will have to wait for Emmanuel Macron's televised intervention to obtain further details.