226,000 people deprived of presidential vote after electoral roll errors

A worker prepares a voting booth in Le Touquet, but 226,000 voters found themselves unable to step inside during the first round of France's presidential election. REUTERS - PASCAL ROSSIGNOL

Of the 48.7 million people enrolled to vote in the first round of France's presidential election, more than one in four opted to stay away. But 226,000 of those who turned out found they couldn't exercise their right after they were mistakenly struck off the electoral roll.

Since the 2021 regional elections, 226,962 voters have been removed from the electoral roll, according to the French statistics body, Insee, which organises the roll.