POLLING stations around France opened at 8.00 on Sunday morning as the second round of departmental elections take place in most areas.
The second round applies to 1,905 cantons - excluding the 149 where a clear winner emerged with a majority vote in the first round last Sunday.
The ballot is to elect each departmental council, which between them are responsible for a €70bn annual budget, three times more spending power than the regional councils. By midday, 15.6% of people had cast their vote.
Polls suggest the Socialists could lost 20 to 40 departments to the right - including Martine Aubry's department, the Nord.
It is also estimated that the Front National could come to power in a handful of areas, including the Vaucluse.
Topless protestors from the Femen feminist movement, wearing moustaches and carrying signs reading "I am a fascist" greeted Marine Le Pen as she turned up to vote in Hénin-Beaumont in the Pas-de-Calais.
President Hollande voted earlier in Tulle, Corrèze, before flying to Tunisia for anti-terrorist demonstration.
Polling station closing times vary between 18.00 and 20.00.