In an open space near Châtelet in central Paris, lanky young men - their knees and elbows folded around BMX bikes - dodge skateboarders out practising their moves. For some of them, France's regional elections this month are their first ever opportunity to vote. But when polls opened for the first round of voting last Sunday, almost 90% of the country's youngest voters failed to show up. Abstention rates were only slightly lower for voters under 35. The second round run-offs take place on Sunday. 'Politics is a huge lie' "I absolutely did not vote," said Jean-Lucien. "Politics is a huge lie." "People are turning to other means of action," added Alexandre. "Like activism, which can have a more concrete and direct impact on people's lives." It's not just the youngest voters who seem uninspired by this election. France's recorded its lowest ever turnout in an election last Sunday, with two out of three voters staying at home. Covid restrictions blocked a lot of campaigning - but the problem is deeper than that. President Emmanuel Macron called it a "democratic alert".Even some older voters, who made it to the polling station, were uninspired by the choices on offer. François Tessé, an engineer in Paris, said it wasn't easy to choose who to vote for. "I don't have a predefined idea," he told me. "[Politics] has changed over the past few years; it was clearer before."