Cantonal elections to elect half the membership of the general councils of France's 100 departments were held on 20 and 27 March 2011.

The cantonal elections use a two-round system similar to that employed in the country's legislative elections.

French cantonal elections are usually paired with another election; for example, they were paired with the regional elections in 1998, the municipal elections in 2001, the regional elections in 2004, and the municipal elections in 2008. The 2011 elections were the first cantonal elections since 1992 not to be paired with another election.

Since cantonal councillors are electors for the senatorial elections, and considering that the forces in the Senate are, as of March 2011 almost balanced, the results of this election could play a role in the September 2011 senatorial elections.

The poll below was conducted only in cantons subject to renewal.

Abstention: 55.68%; invalid ballots; 2.95%