Abstract
Since the Maastricht Treaty of 1992, mobile European citizens within the EU political space have been granted the right to vote in municipal and European elections in their host country. In France, however, only a quarter of non-national European citizens are actually registered on the electoral rolls in their municipality of residence. Little is currently known about the reasons and circumstances that lead these citizens to register and participate in these elections. This article aims to fill this gap by analyzing interviews conducted between 2022 and 2024 with more than thirty (non-national) European citizens registered on French electoral rolls. The study first highlights the significance of long-term settlement plans in France—beyond mere length of residence—in shaping interest in civic and electoral participation. Secondly, results emphasize the collective dimension of voter registration and electoral participation. In this respect, the social integration of these European citizens, particularly observable at the local level, is associated with the emergence of micro-level social pressures surrounding electoral engagement. The study also demonstrates the primacy of this collective dimension over motivations linked to a sense of belonging to Europe. Finally, the exercise of voting rights among these foreign citizens influences their subjective relationship with French citizenship. Indeed, many express frustration at being unable to participate in national elections in France, which leads some of them to seek naturalization in France.