Navigating the landscape of democratic participation just got a whole lot simpler with the launch of Plan Procu, a platform designed to connect voters who cannot make it to the polls with volunteers willing to vote on their behalf. Presented as the “first democratic dating site,” Plan Procu borrows elements from dating services like Tinder or Meetic to create a system that makes voting by proxy more accessible.
The initiative, spearheaded by the 'A Voted' association, aims to fight against abstention by making it easier for voters to delegate their vote if they cannot be present on election day. Users fill out a form with their voter details and are matched with volunteers willing to vote on their behalf. Since its inception, Plan Procu has facilitated over 1,500 matches during the European elections and has seen a surge in activity following the recent dissolution of the National Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron. According to the association, the website has amassed over 80,000 connections and more than 2,000 registrations.
One of the concerns addressed by the platform is the issue of trust. The association emphasizes that power of attorney is inherently a matter of trust, whether done through a familiar person, political party, or citizen platform. Volunteers on Plan Procu must sign a citizen charter committing them to follow through on the voter's instructions. Despite these assurances, the nature of proxy voting means there is no guarantee that the proxy will adhere to the voter’s will.
For those skeptical of using Plan Procu, other methods to assign a voting proxy are available. Voters can fill out a form on the official Maprocuration website or submit a paper version at a police station, gendarmerie, or judicial court. Political parties also offer to connect representatives with absent voters.
This innovative approach aims to tackle barriers to voting and encourage broader participation in democratic processes. By making proxy voting more convenient and transparent, Plan Procu hopes to reduce the number of uncast votes and promote civic engagement.
- The process of using Plan Procu is straightforward. Users enter their electoral data, including voter number, polling station, municipality, and department. This information is deleted at the end of the election campaign for privacy reasons.
- After registration, the platform matches the voter’s request with a suitable volunteer. Both parties are notified via email and must validate the match. The platform generates a Cerfa power-of-attorney request form, and both participants are connected through a discussion thread to finalize voting instructions.
- The site stresses that the arrangement is based on mutual trust. Volunteers must adhere to a commitment charter to respect the voter’s wishes, whether for a specific candidate or a blank or invalid vote.
- The 'A Voted' association reports that the initiative has already had a significant impact. Since its launch, it has linked thousands of voters and volunteers, demonstrating a strong demand for such services.
