For the first time, French citizens living in Bermuda will get a chance to vote in their country’s elections while on Island.The French Consulate is open from 8am to 6pm today for voters to cast their ballots.Eighty French nationals had registered to vote before the December 31 cut-off date, said French Counsul Roquette Bonne-Smith.“This is history for Bermuda because we have never had this opportunity before. As a French Counsel I lobbied with the counsel in New York and they made it possible for this to happen,” said Mrs Bonne-Smith.Boris Julien-Vauzelle, an intern at the French Consulate in New York, will preside over the elections. He said the foreign office had been working to make this process possible for months.In addition to inviting all French citizens to register to vote, they also had to inform the Bermuda Government of the move and get permission to do it.Mrs Bonne-Smith said: “The French here are very happy for this to take place because they do not have to send letters home to France to get people to vote for them. They also do not have to go to New York, it’s right there for them.”She encouraged registered voters to take advantage of the democratic process tomorrow: “This is a very important election in France.”Added Mr Julien-Vauzelle: “It’s important that no matter where you are living you should be able to vote.”There are eight candidates in the 2012 French election. French President Nicholas Sarkozy is up against Francois Hollande of the Socialist party.The French Consulate is located in Mintflower Place on 8 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton.