In front of the entrance to the two polling stations at the town hall of Troyes (Aube) this Sunday, the security officer is not overwhelmed by work.
"It's very quiet, even more than a week ago," he describes.
In the ballot boxes, the beige envelopes are not lacking in air.
At noon, in the city led by François Baroin (LR), also president of the Association of Mayors of France, the participation in the second round of the regional in the Grand-Est was only 12.84% (12.66 % nationwide) against 13.28% in the first round.
A week ago, abstention here had finally reached 74.48%, or nearly three quarters of those registered.
For the second round, the civic leap so hoped for had still not taken place at lunchtime.
Brian, 36, tobacconist, persists in abstaining.
"No time to vote, I'm working," he says at the time of his break.
"Well, that doesn't interest me", he continues under the eye of a Marianne statue embedded in the facade of the town hall.
If there is a ballot where he moves, it is the presidential one.
"But I vote blank," he says.
Brian, abstainer in the first and second rounds.
LP / Vincent Mongaillard
David, too, sulks the voting booth.
"The sclerotic political debates right-left, that swells me", blows this thirty-something.
"No candidate stands out," continues his companion.
For Christophe, 31, the regional election is the least of his concerns.
"Me, I only think about work, I do not even know who shows up, I do not watch the news", defends this manager in a store.
Philippe, 54, is convinced that his voice would have no weight.
"What will it change that I vote!"
Whether one or the other is elected, I will always be disappointed, ”he said.
To read also "Whatever one votes, that does not change anything": diving in France of the abstention
Sylvie, 62 years old, "young retiree", has fulfilled her duty as a citizen.
Like always.
She is alarmed by this record abstention.
“It's very scary, it's staggering, it's a bit of the bankruptcy of democracy.
Thinking that there is no point in voting is the door open to extremism, ”she warns.
Coming from Côtes-d'Armor, Margaux, 27, is enjoying a relaxing family weekend in the area, far removed from electoral concerns.
“Since the end of health restrictions, we think of getting away from it all, not of going to vote.
I just had a child, I needed a break, ”she explains.
The candidates in Brittany did not retain it.
"I find myself in no list".
Next year, on the other hand, she promises to resume the path of citizenship.
"The presidential election, I will not miss it," she agrees.
At 11:45 am, the polling station number 2 at the town hall comes alive. It is "Monsieur le Maire" François Baroin who enters the voting booth. Like "any public official", he says he is concerned about this desertion from the ballot box. "The authority of the State is very weak," he tackles. He also denounces "the scandal of the distribution of professions of faith" which arrived "extremely late" in letter boxes. “Everything is done to show that it is not very important,” he regrets.