How to Apply for Mail-in Voting in the 2025 Bundestag Election: Key Dates and Information
The upcoming Bundestag election is scheduled for February 23, 2025. With many voters opting for mail-in voting, it is crucial to understand the application process, deadlines, and the overall procedure.
Shortened Voting PeriodDue to the early election date, the timeframe for mail-in voting is reduced. The federal election commissioner advises voters to apply for their voting documents promptly, fill them out, and return them as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions- When can I apply for mail-in voting?
- Where do I apply for mail-in voting?
- What are the deadlines for mail-in voting in 2025?
- How do I cast my vote by mail?
- Can I vote in person at the polling station if I have applied for mail-in voting?
- What do Germans living abroad need to consider for mail-in voting?
- Are there any specific considerations for mail-in voting due to the early election?
- When was mail-in voting introduced?
- How secure is mail-in voting?
Voters can begin applying for mail-in voting documents immediately, as applications are accepted as soon as the election date is confirmed. It is not necessary to wait for the election notification to arrive. However, an early application does not guarantee faster dispatch of the voting documents.
Where to Apply for Mail-in VotingApplications for mail-in voting documents should be sent to the municipality of the voter's primary residence via post, email, fax, or in some cases, online. Applicants must provide their full name, date of birth, and address. Note that applying by phone is not an option.
The election notification, which indicates the possibility of mail-in voting, can also be used to apply. Many notifications include personal QR codes, which allow for smartphone applications.
Election notifications for the 2025 Bundestag election will start being sent out from January 13, 2025. Voters who do not receive a notification by February 2, 2025, should contact their local municipality.
Deadlines for Mail-in Voting in 2025The earliest possible date for sending out mail-in voting documents is February 10, 2025. This is contingent on the approval of party lists, with the deadline for potential complaints from parties ending on January 30. Voting ballots can only be printed after this date.
The deadline for applying for mail-in voting is February 21, 2025, at 3 PM. The completed ballot must be received by the relevant municipality by 6 PM on election day. To ensure timely delivery, ballots should be mailed no later than February 20, 2025, which is the Thursday before the election. Alternatively, voters can also deliver their ballots in person.
Instructions for Voting by MailMail-in voting documents include a ballot, a voting certificate, and two envelopes. Voters must mark both the first and second votes on the ballot as they would in a polling station, ensuring privacy. The completed ballot is then placed into the ballot envelope, and a declaration on the voting certificate confirms that the ballot was filled out personally.
Both the ballot envelope and the signed voting certificate are placed into a red envelope, which can be dropped in any mailbox or delivered to the designated municipal office without postage. Voters residing abroad must cover postage costs themselves.
Voting in Person After Applying for Mail-in VotingVoters who have applied for mail-in voting can still vote in person at polling stations. The voter's record will indicate that a voting certificate has been issued, allowing them to vote either by mail or in person, provided the mail-in ballot has not yet been submitted.
Considerations for Germans Living AbroadGerman citizens residing abroad and not registered in Germany must first apply for inclusion in the voter registry. This application must be submitted to the municipality where they were last registered. The Foreign Office has emphasized that this application must reach the relevant municipal authority by February 3, 2025. Applications have been accepted since November 2024. More information and application forms are available on the Federal Election Commission's website.
For those living in countries where mail delivery to and from Germany is significantly delayed, the provided deadlines may be challenging. Some German embassies and consulates are offering expedited transport of mail-in voting documents through diplomatic post and private couriers. Voters abroad should inquire about these options at their respective diplomatic missions.
Special Considerations for Early ElectionsLegally, there are no differences in the mail-in voting process for this early election compared to previous Bundestag elections. However, several state election authorities have encouraged voters to consider casting their ballots in person to alleviate pressure on the voting system and ensure all votes are counted properly.
Election officials have expressed concerns about possible time constraints due to the shortened period between the dispatch of voting materials and the election date, which is just under two weeks this time.
History and Security of Mail-in VotingMail-in voting has been a feature of Bundestag elections since 1957, with a steady increase in its use. In the 2021 election, the proportion of voters using mail-in ballots surged to over 47% due to the pandemic.
Mail-in voting is generally secure if the documents are applied for early, correctly filled out, and returned on time or delivered personally. However, it is inherently more prone to errors compared to in-person voting.
There have been instances of lost mail-in voting documents, resulting in some votes not being counted. Additionally, unlike in polling stations, it is not possible to verify that each ballot is filled out personally and confidentially during mail-in voting. Past incidents of localized election fraud have raised concerns about the security of mail-in voting. Nevertheless, large-scale manipulation that could influence the outcome of a Bundestag election is considered highly unlikely in Germany. The counting process for mail-in ballots is transparent and occurs publicly, allowing for scrutiny in case of any irregularities.
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