Union of International Democrats
European elections June 6 to 9, 2024
How do I vote in Germany?
The European elections in Germany will take place on Sunday, June 9, 2024. German citizens and citizens of the European Union who are at least 16 years old and are entered in the electoral register of their place of residence may cast their vote. Voting by post or from abroad is also possible.
When is the election?
Der Wahltag in Deutschland ist der 9. Juni 2024.
How many members of parliament are elected?
In this election, 96 members of the European Parliament will be elected in Germany, the same number as in the 2019 European election.
How are the members of parliament elected?
EU election law provides for a proportional representation system, where the number of representatives a party sends depends on the number of votes received. In Germany, the election is conducted using a proportional representation system based on party list proposals, which can be submitted either for individual federal states or as a joint list for all federal states. Closed lists are used, meaning the order of candidates cannot be changed by the voters.
Who is eligible to vote?
In Germany, eligible voters are persons who:
- Are at least 16 years old (18 years old to be eligible for election on election day),
- Have German or another EU citizenship,
- Have their residence in Germany and have been residing in the EU for at least three months,
- Are registered in the electoral roll (for Union citizens).
Where can I cast my vote?
German or EU citizens in Germany: Eligible voters must vote in the polling station indicated on their election notification. Alternatively, a voting certificate can be requested to vote by mail or in another polling station within the district or independent city.
Germans abroad: Germans living abroad and not registered in Germany can be entered in the electoral roll and participate in the European election by mail.
What documents do I need at the polling station?
Voters should bring their election notification and a valid identification document such as an identity card or passport. If the election notification is forgotten, the ID must be presented.
What assistance is available for people with disabilities?
Accessible voting allows people with disabilities to exercise their right to vote independently. The election notification will indicate if the polling station is accessible. If not, a new election notification for an accessible polling station can be requested. Eligible voters can be accompanied by an assistant. Blind and visually impaired persons can use ballot templates. Voting by mail is also an option.
Can I vote by mail?
Yes, voting by mail is possible. To do this, a voting certificate must be requested from the municipality of the main residence. The voting certificate and mail voting documents will be sent together. A voting certificate can be requested until 6:00 PM on the Friday before election day. In exceptional cases, such as sudden illness, the voting certificate can be requested until 3:00 PM on election day.
Request for mail voting: When, Where, and How?
Mail voting application: Time, place, and procedure
Eligible voters who wish to vote by mail should submit their application for a voting certificate and mail voting documents as early as possible to the municipal administration of their main residence. It is not necessary to wait for the receipt of the election notification to do so.
Application procedure:
- In writing (informal), e.g., by email or in person.
- The application must include the following information: last name, first name, date of birth, and residential address.
- Telephone applications are not permitted.
Assistance for people with disabilities: Eligible voters with disabilities can receive assistance from another person when applying.
Deadlines for application:
- Mail voting documents can be requested until 6:00 PM on the Friday before the election.
- In emergencies, such as sudden illness, application is possible until 3:00 PM on election day.
Required documents for mail voting
What documents are required for mail voting?
- A voting certificate, signed by the responsible person of the municipal administration and stamped with an official seal. If automatically generated, the signature may be omitted and the name of the responsible person printed.
- An official ballot paper.
- An official ballot envelope (white).
- An official voting envelope (red) with the full address of the submission point.
- A detailed leaflet on mail voting with important instructions and illustrative images.
Instructions for secure voting: Those who follow the instructions in the leaflet can be sure that their voting envelope will not be rejected.
How mail voting works
Steps for mail voting:
- Fill out the ballot personally. For the European election: one vote for the parties in the European Parliament.
- Place the ballot in the ballot envelope and seal it.
- Sign the “Affirmation in lieu of oath for mail voting” on the voting certificate with the date.
- Place the voting certificate and the ballot envelope in the red voting envelope.
- Seal the voting envelope and send it unfranked (within Germany) or franked (outside Germany) or submit it directly.
Mail voting leaflet: The leaflet contains detailed instructions and will be sent along with the mail voting documents.
Deadlines for sending voting envelopes
Timely dispatch of voting envelopes: The voting envelope should be sent or submitted as early as possible after receiving the mail voting documents. It must be received by the responsible office no later than 6:00 PM on election Sunday.
Shipping recommendations:
- In Germany: at least three working days before the election.
- Abroad: possibly by airmail with an airmail sticker (Priority).
Reasons for rejection of voting envelopes
When are voting envelopes rejected?
- The voting envelope did not arrive on time.
- There is no valid voting certificate enclosed.
- No ballot envelope is enclosed.
- The voting envelope or ballot envelope is not sealed.
- The voting envelope contains multiple ballot envelopes but not the same number of valid voting certificates.
- The “Affirmation in lieu of oath” is not signed.
- No official ballot envelope was used.