The majority of French people considering abstaining from voting say there is a lack of novelty in the agenda. At the same time, voters are unwilling to participate in the elections since they believe “the die is already cast” – and that there is no suspense regarding the result, the new poll data suggests.

Conducted by Ipsos/Sopra Steria on March 29 and 30, the poll showed abstention in the first round will likely sit between 28 and 32 percent.

This percentage would surpass abstention during the first round of elections in 2017, which was 22.2 percent, making it the higher abstention rate in 20 years.

The next highest abstention was recorded in April 2002 – when 28.4 percent of French voters didn’t cast their vote in the Presidential elections.

Abstention is likely to be much higher among young people. Among those asked, 40 percent of voters under 35 years old indicated they will abstain, compared to 15 percent of voters aged 70 and older.