Germany
Make sure you're registered and ready to vote in Germany. German citizens aged 18 and over are registered automatically through their local residents' registry, and you receive a polling card in the mail.
Next Election
March 25, 2029
Voter Portal
Register Online
What's On My Ballot?
ID Requirements
Absentee / Early Voting
Registration Deadline
Most voters are registered automatically through the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). Germans living abroad must apply to be entered on the electoral roll (Wählerverzeichnis); the Federal Returning Officer gives deadlines for each election.
Why Voting Matters
Why does voting matter in Germany? Because every eligible German voter holds exactly the same power: one vote. Germans vote for the Bundestag with two votes, a first vote for a local candidate and a second vote for a party, and also elect state parliaments, councils and members of the European Parliament. Those choices shape public services, taxes, safety and the economy, and turnout is how ordinary people show up for them.
Because the second vote decides each party's share of seats, nearly every vote matters when parties compete near the five percent threshold.
Each election is a chance to decide who governs. Check that you are registered, make a plan to vote, and bring a friend.
Voter Assistance Resources
Need help voting in Germany? Your polling card (Wahlbenachrichtigung) shows your polling station and lets you apply for postal voting (Briefwahl); call or visit your local election office (Wahlamt) if you lose it or did not receive one.
People with disabilities can bring someone to help in the booth, and polling stations are required to be accessible where possible. Germans abroad can apply to be added to the electoral roll and vote by post. The Federal Returning Officer (Bundeswahlleiterin) publishes information in plain language and easy language. Contact details and rules can change, so confirm everything with the official election authority linked on this page before you vote.
Sign up to be an election worker
Election workers (often called poll workers) keep voting running smoothly in Germany. Most are paid for their time, get free training, and help their neighbors cast their ballots. You can work a full day, a shorter shift, or help before Election Day. German municipalities appoint poll workers in an honorary role, and the Federal Returning Officer explains how it works. Find out how to sign up:
https://bundeswahlleiterin.de/service/glossar/w/wahlhelfer.html
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