French citizens living in Puducherry, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala cast their votes to elect their representative in the first round of French parliamentary elections.

The French Consulate, with the help of the Bureau de France in Chennai and officials in Puducherry, made arrangements for overseas French citizens living in these states to participate in the elections to be held on June 30.

A release from the French Consulates in Puducherry and Chennai on Monday said there were 4,535 registered voters.

A source at the Consulate here said that 892 voters participated in the elections. But after 12 ballot papers and envelopes and three blank ballot papers were rejected, the number of valid votes came down to 877.

Two rounds of voting were held on Sunday while the second round of voting will be held on July 7.

French Consul General Lise Talbot Barre, who observed the voting process, was among those who cast their votes here on Sunday.

There were four polling stations – two in Puducherry, one each in Chennai and Karaikal. Voters had the option of casting their vote in the ballot box by proxy or online.

This year, candidates from 15 political parties took part in the first round of voting.