A record number of French voters left their ballots blank

Given the choice between far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, a record high number of French voters left their ballots blank. CNN reported Monday, the day after Macron won the French presidential election in a runoff, that nearly 9 percent of voters "cast blank or spoiled ballots — the highest ever since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958." More than 33 percent of voters abstained, marking the highest percentage of voters to skip the ballot box since 1969.
French voters cited dissatisfaction with the two choices — one voter told CNN he didn't "want to vote against something," but "for something" — and with the French electoral system. "I'm quite convinced that the election system is not very democratic. In fact, it's quite the opposite," said Guillaume Castevert, a French voter who cast a blank ballot. "Every five years you make people feel like they are important, like their vote counts, but it doesn't really matter."
Macron beat Le Pen in a 66 percent to 34 percent vote.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda